Cryptaspasma bipenicilla

Status

NATIVE

PORT INTERCEPT | DOMESTIC SURVEY

Taxonomy

Cryptaspasma (Cryptaspasma) bipenicilla Brown & Brown (Tortricidae: Olethreutinae: Microcorsini)

Adult Recognition

FWL: 6.5–11.5 mm

Males are grayish brown with faint black reticulated markings. Females are uniformly darker with less markings. Both males and females have a conspicuous white dot on the distal one-third of the forewing. Hindwings are pale grayish brown.

Male genitalia are characterized by an elongate, tapering uncus; densely setose socii; and subtriangular valvae. Female genitalia are characterized by broad papillae anales and two large signa in the corpus bursae. Males have two large patches of coremata on the posterior margin of segment VIII that are paired in two lengths.

Larval Morphology

The larva of Cryptaspasma bipenicilla has not been described. Larvae of other species of Cryptaspasma are orange to pink with a yellowish brown head and prothoracic shield. Pinacula are weakly sclerotized. Diagnostic characters include: D2 setae on A8 on the same "saddle" pinaculum; D1, D2, and SD1 setae on A9 all on the same large "saddle" pinaculum; L-pinaculum on A9 bisetose; and anal comb absent.

Similar Species

The subgenus Cryptaspasma contains a total of six species, including C. bipenicilla, all of which are difficult to separate. Cryptaspasma bipenicilla can be separated from most described Neotropical Cryptaspasma (subgenus Cryptaspasma) by the two lengths of coremata on the male abdomen. Other undescribed species from Central and South America have two lengths of coremata but may be separated using a combination of other characters.

Distribution

Cryptaspasma bipenicilla has been reported from the coastal southeastern United States (North Carolina south to Florida and west to Texas), the Caribbean, and Central America.

Biology

Life history information for Cryptaspasma bipenicilla is undocumented, although it is assumed to be similar to that of other avocado-feeding Cryptaspasma, such as C. perseana.

Cryptaspasma bipenicilla has been recorded feeding on seeds of avocado (Persea americana) and slugwood (Beilschmiedia pendula) in Puerto Rico and Cuba. Potential lauraceous hosts in the southeastern United States include redbay (Persea borbonia) and swamp bay (Persea palustris).

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.