Archips mortuana

Status

NATIVE

DOMESTIC SURVEY

Taxonomy

Archips mortuana (Kearfott) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)

Common names: dusky-back leaf roller

Adult Recognition

FWL: 7.0–9.0 mm

The male forewing pattern is similar to that of Archips argyrospila, with at least one, and usually two, semi-rectangular pale tan patches on the costa. These costal patches are greatly reduced in the female, with the remaining pattern resembling the male or reduced to a patternless rusty gray. Males have a forewing costal fold.

Male genitalia are characterized by a finger-like uncus; socii absent; and broad, membranous, nearly circular valvae. Female genitalia are characterized by a long, narrow ductus bursae with cestum present; and a short, dagger-like signum present in the corpus bursae.

Larval Morphology

The following account is summarized from MacKay (1962a)MacKay (1962a):
MacKay, M. R. 1962a. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 28: 1-182. and Chapman and Lienk (1971)Chapman and Lienk (1971):
Chapman, P. J., Lienk, S. E. 1971. Tortricid fauna of apple in New York (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae); including an account of apple's occurrence in the state, especially as a naturalized plant. Spec. Publ. Geneva, NY: New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. 122 pp..

Mature larvae are 14–22 mm in length. Early to mid-instars are dark green dorsally and lighter green laterally; this color difference is reduced in the last instar. Pinaculae are pale and contrast with the dark green dorsal coloration. The head is yellowish brown and may be unmarked or have dark-brown to black mottling. The prothoracic shield is greenish brown with variable degrees of posterior shading.

A more detailed account of larval chaetotaxy is available in MacKay (1962a)MacKay (1962a):
MacKay, M. R. 1962a. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 28: 1-182..

Similar Species

Archips mortuana is part of the A. argyrospila species complex, and it was once hypothesized to simply be a dark form of A. argyrospila (Powell 1964bPowell 1964b:
Powell, J. A. 1964b. Biological and taxonomic studies on tortricine moths, with reference to the species in California. University of California Publications in Entomology. Vol. 32. 317 pp.). Chapman and Lienk (1971)Chapman and Lienk (1971):
Chapman, P. J., Lienk, S. E. 1971. Tortricid fauna of apple in New York (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae); including an account of apple's occurrence in the state, especially as a naturalized plant. Spec. Publ. Geneva, NY: New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. 122 pp. demonstrated that the sex pheromone for A. mortuana is different from A. argyrospila, providing evidence that the two are separate species.

Distribution

Archips mortuana is found in the eastern half North America. There are also individuals recorded from Utah and California, but Chapman and Lienk (1971)Chapman and Lienk (1971):
Chapman, P. J., Lienk, S. E. 1971. Tortricid fauna of apple in New York (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae); including an account of apple's occurrence in the state, especially as a naturalized plant. Spec. Publ. Geneva, NY: New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. 122 pp. doubt the accuracy of these records.

Biology

The following account is summarized from Chapman and Lienk (1971)Chapman and Lienk (1971):
Chapman, P. J., Lienk, S. E. 1971. Tortricid fauna of apple in New York (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae); including an account of apple's occurrence in the state, especially as a naturalized plant. Spec. Publ. Geneva, NY: New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. 122 pp..

Archips mortuana completes one generation per year. Adults are present in June and July. This species has the same basic life history information as A. argyrospila.

Females lay eggs in masses of approximately 60–80 individual eggs. Eggs overwinter and first instar larvae hatch the following spring. Larvae feed primarily on leaves and pupation occurs within the final larval feeding site.

Host plants

Chapman and Lienk (1971)Chapman and Lienk (1971):
Chapman, P. J., Lienk, S. E. 1971. Tortricid fauna of apple in New York (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae); including an account of apple's occurrence in the state, especially as a naturalized plant. Spec. Publ. Geneva, NY: New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. 122 pp. consider apple (Malus spp.) and hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) to be the primary larval hosts in the northeastern United States. Other host plants are listed here.

Plant Associations

View full screen host table here

Links

Additional photos and distribution map in North America available at Moth Photographers Group.