Cryptophlebia ombrodelta (Lower) (Tortricidae: Olethreutinae: Grapholitini)
Common names: litchi fruit moth, macadamia nut borer
Synonyms: carpophaga (Cryptophlebia)
FWL: 6.4–8.4 mm (males); 6.4–11.5 mm (females)
Adults are brown to reddish brown with a dark-brown pretornal spot that is more pronounced in females. Males have sex scales on the hindwing, hind tibia, and abdomen. Males lack a forewing costal fold.
Male genitalia are characterized by swollen valvae with three large spines on the cucullus. Female genitalia are characterized by a narrow, V-shaped sterigma that is separate from the posterior margin of sternum VII and two signa in the corpus bursae.
The following account is summarized from MacKay (1959)MacKay (1959):
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338. and Zimmerman (1978)Zimmerman (1978):
Zimmerman, E. C. 1978. Insects of Hawaii, Volume 9, Microlepidoptera, Part 1. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 881 pp..
Larvae are very similar to those of Cryptophlebia illepida except that some specimens of C. ombrodelta possess "indications of an anal fork". Other diagnostic features of Cryptophlebia larvae include: T1 prespiracular pinaculum extends below the spiracle; SV counts on A1,2,7,8,9 as 3:3:2(3):2(1):1; SV seta on A8 and A9 bisetose; spiracle on A8 near posterior margin of segment and displaced dorsally; L group on A9 usually trisetose (occasionally bisetose); D1 and SD1 setae on same pinaculum on A9; and D2 setae on shared saddle pinaculum on A9.
Adults of most Cryptophlebia species are superficially similar and are often mixed in museum collections. A genitalic dissection is usually necessary to confirm identity. The three species treated here, C. illepida, C. ombrodelta, and C. peltastica, can be separated by genitalic characters and geographic distribution, as outlined in the following table.
| Species | Male valva | Female sterigma | Distribution |
| illepida | 5wo large spines, multiple rows of marginal spines | wide, V-shaped | Hawaii |
| ombrodelta | three large spines | narrow, V-shaped, separate | Australia, Guam, Japan, India, Southeast Asia, Hawaii (int.) |
| peltastica | three large spines, margin densely setose | narrow, ovate, deeply inset | Africa, Seychelles, Mauritius, Guam (int.) |
Both C. illepida and C. ombrodelta occur in Hawaii; the former is native (Austin and Rubinoff 2025Austin and Rubinoff 2025:
Austin, K.A., Rubinoff, D. 2025. Phylogenetics confirms a unique instance of endemicity in a polyphagous Hawaiian moth pest and uncovers a remarkable new species. Pacific Science. 78(2): 119-137.) and the latter has been introduced. In addition to the genitalic differences listed above, adults of these two species can be separated by a character on the male hind tibia: in C. ombrodelta there is an ovate bare patch that is absent in C. illepida (Austin and Rubinoff 2025Austin and Rubinoff 2025:
Austin, K.A., Rubinoff, D. 2025. Phylogenetics confirms a unique instance of endemicity in a polyphagous Hawaiian moth pest and uncovers a remarkable new species. Pacific Science. 78(2): 119-137.).
Cryptophlebia ombrodelta is recorded from Australia, Guam, India, Japan, Java, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand. It has been introduced into Hawaii.
The biology of Cryptophlebia ombrodelta is similar to that of C. illepida. Females lay eggs on the fruits or pods of the host plant. Larvae bore into the fruit or pod and feed on the seeds. Pupation occurs in the fruit or pod or in the ground. Development is continuous, and adults are present year-round.
Cryptophlebia ombrodelta is an important pest of macadamia (Macadamia spp.), lychee (Litchi chinensis), and longan (Dimocarpus longan) fruit in Asia, Australia, and Hawaii. Larvae are moderately polyphagous and have been recorded feeding on plants in several families.
Authors: KA Austin, TM Gilligan, ME Epstein
Content last updated May 2025
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