Argyrotaenia ljungiana

Status

EXOTIC

PORT INTERCEPT

Taxonomy

Argyrotaenia ljungiana (Thunberg) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)

Common name: grape tortrix

Synonyms: cognatana (Argyrotaenia), fuscociliana (Argyrotaenia), lepidana (Argyrotaenia), micantana (Olethreutes), micanthana (Olethreutes), politana (Tortrix), pulchellana (Tortrix), sylvana (Tortrix)

Adult Recognition

FWL: 5.5–8.5 mm

Forewing ground color ranges from pale brown to silvery white. Markings are dark reddish brown to gray and usually include a well-defined median fascia and outer costal spot. Hindwings are grayish brown. Males lack a forewing costal fold.

Male genitalia are characterized by a well-developed, finger-like uncus; reduced socii; and large, subtriangular, membranous valvae. Female genitalia are characterized by a ductus bursae with a sclerotized plate near the ostium and a large, hook-shaped signum in the corpus bursae with a well-developed capitulum.

Larval Morphology

The following account is summarized from Swatschek (1958)Swatschek (1958):
Swatschek, B. 1958. Die larval systematik der wickler (Tortricidae und Carposinidae) aus dem zoologischen Institut der Universitat Erlangen. Akademie-Verlag, Berlin. 269 pp. [Abhandlungen zur larvalsystematik Insekten 3.] and Bradley et al. (1973)Bradley et al. (1973):
Bradley, J. D., Tremewan, W. G., Smith, A. 1973. British Tortricoid Moths, Cochylidae and Tortricidae: Tortricinae. The Ray Society, London. 251 pp..

Late instar larvae are pale green with a yellowish brown head. The prothoracic shield is yellowish green with a black posterolateral mark and black shading on the posterior margin. An anal comb with 6–8 teeth is present.

Similar Species

Adults may appear similar to other species of Argyrotaenia, including A. velutinana and A. pinatubana. A genitalic dissection is necessary to confirm identity. Male A. velutinana have a distal, pointed projection from the median sclerotized portion of the valva that is absent in A. ljungiana. The uncus of male A. pinatubana is broader and slightly expanded distally compared to the uncus of A. ljungiana.

Distribution

Argyrotaenia ljungiana is distributed from Western Europe east to China and Japan.

Bradley et al. (1973)Bradley et al. (1973):
Bradley, J. D., Tremewan, W. G., Smith, A. 1973. British Tortricoid Moths, Cochylidae and Tortricidae: Tortricinae. The Ray Society, London. 251 pp. reported this species as occurring in North America; the source of this record is probably related to a misidentification of A. pinatubana as Tortrix politana (= ljungiana) by Zeller, which was then reported by Packard (1890)Packard (1890):
Packard, A. S. 1890. Insects injurious to forest and shade trees. USDA, Fifth Report of the U.S. Entomological Commission, Bulletin No. 7. 957 pp.. Freeman (1944)Freeman (1944):
Freeman, T. N. 1944. A review of the North American species of the genus Argyrotaenia Stephens (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae). Scientific Agriculture. 25: 81-94. correctly synonymized the Packard T. politana under A. ljungiana.

Biology

The following account is summarized from Bradley et al. (1973)Bradley et al. (1973):
Bradley, J. D., Tremewan, W. G., Smith, A. 1973. British Tortricoid Moths, Cochylidae and Tortricidae: Tortricinae. The Ray Society, London. 251 pp..

Argyrotaenia ljungiana completes 1–2 generations in most of Europe and 2–3 generations in Transcaucasia (Caucasus Mountains). Adults are present April-May and June-July, and again in September if there is a third generation.

Females deposit eggs in masses of 40–50 individual eggs on the upper surface of leaves. Early instar larvae skeletonize the underside of leaves along the midrib. Later instars roll or fold leaves and may also feed on buds and fruits. Pupation occurs in debris on the ground, in webbed leaves, or in bark crevices. Overwintering occurs in the pupal stage.

This species is considered a pest of fruit and field crops and ornamentals in southern Europe and the European part of the former USSR. It has been recorded damaging a variety of plants, with most economic losses occurring in apple (Malus spp.), grape (Vitis sp.), and tea (Camellia sinensis).

Larvae of A. ljungiana are polyphagous and have been reported feeding on a variety of plants, including many economically important species. The following is a partial host list.

Plant Associations

View full screen host table here