Choristoneura fractivittana (Clemens) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)
Common names: broken-banded leafroller moth, dark-banded fireworm
Synonyms: fumosa (Tortrix)
FWL: 7.5–9.0 mm (males); 9.5–12.5 mm (females)
Head and thorax golden brown; forewing with ground color golden brown; fasciae brown, basal fascia fainter than median fascia, occasionally obsolete, median fascia often conspicuously broken along anterior margin of cell (usually more distinct in males); male with costal fold present; hindwing brown.
Male genitalia are distinguished by short, broadly quadrate valvae with a well-developed sacculus without an abruptly angular subapical projection on the ventral margin; and a finger-like uncus (Dang 1992Dang 1992:
Dang, P. T. 1992. Morphological study of male genitalia with phylogenetic inference of Choristoneura Lederer (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist. 124: 7-48.). Female genitalia are characterized by a long, thin ductus bursae and a large, hook-like signum.
Little is known about the larval morphology of C. fractivittana, but it is undoubtedly similar to other species of Choristoneura, especially C. conflictana, to which it is closely related.
Similarities in genitalia and molecular analyses suggest that Choristoneura fractivittana is most closely related to C. conflictana, despite the two being quite distinct in external appearance.
Externally, C. fractivittana is very similar in forewing pattern to both C. rosaceana and C. parallela. Both males of C. rosaceana and C. fractivittana possess a forewing costal fold, but the median fascia of C. fractivittana is often incomplete or fractured (hence its species name) compared to C. rosaceana. In addition, the margins of the fasciae in C. fractivittana are often more poorly-defined than in C. rosaceana.
Males of C. parallela lack a forewing costal fold. In addition, the outer margin of the basal fascia is parallel to the inner margin of the median fascia in C. parallela. In C. fractivittana, this is not the case (the basal fascia is often obsolete).
Choristoneura fractivittana is widespread across eastern North America, but does not appear to be as common as other species of Choristoneura, such as C. rosaceana.
Little is known about the biology of Choristoneura fractivittana beyond the known host plants listed below. Its life cycle is likely similar to other broad leaf-feeding species of Choristoneura, such as C. rosaceana.
View full screen host table here
Authors: KA Austin, TM Gilligan, ME Epstein
Content last updated May 2025
idtools.org
TortAI tool images at ipmimages.org - ITP Node
