Cacoecimorpha pronubana

Status

ADVENTIVE

PORT INTERCEPT | DOMESTIC SURVEY

Taxonomy

Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Hübner) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)

Common names: carnation tortrix, European carnation moth

Synonyms: ambustana (Tortrix), hermineana (Tortrix), insolatana (Tortrix), perochreana (Tortrix)

Adult Recognition

FWL: 6.5–8.5 mm (males); 7.5–11.5 mm (females)

Forewings are orangish brown to dark brown. A dark-brown median fascia is usually expressed in males while females are lighter with dark reticulations. The hindwings in both sexes are a distinctive bright orange and black, although many females lack black scaling on the hindwings. Males lack a forewing costal fold.

Male genitalia are characterized by an apically widened uncus; reduced socii; and short, triangular valvae with a distinctive sacculus. Female genitalia are characterized by a long, straight ductus bursae with a cestum; and a signum present as a sclerotized, circular patch in the corpus bursae.

Larval Morphology

The following account is summarized from Fisher (1924)Fisher (1924):
Fisher, R. C. 1924. The life-history and habits of Tortrix pronubana , Hb. with special reference to the larval and pupal stages. Annals of Applied Biology. 11(3): 395-447. and 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.].

Mature larva 15–20 mm in length; larvae are green to dark green with conspicuous light green pinacula, white setae, and dark brown to black spiracles. The head is green to yellowish brown with a dark brown to black posterolateral dash and variable dark brown to black markings on the posterior margin. The prothoracic shield is brownish green to yellowish brown, usually with distinctive dark brown to black markings on the posterolateral corners and other small markings near the mid-dorsal line. Thoracic legs are brown. The anal shield is variably mottled with brown or black, and an anal comb is present with 6 teeth in most individuals.

Similar Species

Males have been captured in pheromone traps using pheromones from several other species, including Clepsis spectrana, Pandemis heparana, and Adoxophyes orana. Individuals of Cacoecimorpha pronubana can be separated from most other tortricids by their bright orange and black hindwings as well as the distinctive genitalia of both sexes.

Distribution

Cacoecimorpha pronubana is native to Northern Africa, Europe, and Asia Minor. It has been introduced into South Africa, Argentina and North America, where it is present in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington). In early 2011 this species was discovered in California feeding on Daphne odora (winter daphne). There are also records from Colorado and New York, but it is unclear if these represent established populations or not. 

Biology

The following account is summarized from Fisher (1924)Fisher (1924):
Fisher, R. C. 1924. The life-history and habits of Tortrix pronubana , Hb. with special reference to the larval and pupal stages. Annals of Applied Biology. 11(3): 395-447. 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..

The number of generations per year varies from two generations in northern regions to 4–6 continuously overlapping generations in southern regions, where adults may be present year round. In Washington, adults are present in May through the end of September.

Females deposit eggs in small groups. First instar larvae mine leaves or buds, while later instars roll or web leaves and terminals. Larvae may cause damage to fruit by webbing leaves to fruit or feeding between adjacent fruits. In areas where there are not continuous generations, overwintering occurs in the larval stage.

Males fly during the day or early evening and have been observed "swarming" around sources of the female pheromone, sometimes in large numbers.

Cacoecimorpha pronubana larvae are highly polyphagous and have been recorded from more than 160 species of plants in 42 families. Only a subset of known hosts is included in the table below. As its common name would suggest, this species is most often encountered as a pest of flowers in greenhouses, although the following partial host list includes many other economically important crops.

Plant Associations

View full screen host table here

Links

Additional photos and a distribution map of this species in North America are available at Moth Photographers Group.