Cydia caryana

Status

NATIVE

DOMESTIC SURVEY

Taxonomy

Cydia caryana (Fitch) (Tortricidae: Olethreutinae: Grapholitini)

Common names: hickory shuckworm

Adult Recognition

FWL: 5.0–7.0 mm

Forewings are dark brown to black with a faint ocellus. Hindwings are dark brown with a white patch on the upper basal half. Males have a row of black sex scales on the anal margin of the hindwing and lack a forewing costal fold.

Male genitalia are characterized by the absence of an uncus; a large, domed tegumen; and distally rounded valvae with a large basal cavity. Female genitalia are characterized by a sterigma with two well-sclerotized small lateral lobes and two opposite, horn-like signa in the corpus bursae.

Larval Morphology

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..

Mature larva approximately 10 mm in length; width of head approximately 1.3 mm; head yellow-brown with darker lateral pigmentation; prothoracic shield and anal shield pale yellow-brown; body, legs pale; anal fork absent; SV group on A1, 2, 7, 8, 9 most often 2:3:2:1:1 but highly variable.

Detailed figures of larval chaetotaxy are available in MacKay (1959)MacKay (1959):
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338..

Similar Species

Cydia caryana can be separated from most other Nearctic and Palearctic Cydia by the combination of dark brown to black forewings and white patch on the hindwings.

Distribution

Cydia caryana occurs widely in eastern North America from Nova Scotia west to Wisconsin and south to Florida and eastern Texas. It has yet to become a major pest in the western pecan producing regions such as Arizona and California.

Biology

The following account is summarized from Payne and Heaton (1975)Payne and Heaton (1975):
Payne, J. A., Heaton, E. K. 1975. The hickory shuckworm: its biology, effect upon nut quality, and control. Annual Report of the Northern Nut Growers Association. 66: 19-25..

Eggs are laid on pecans (Carya illinoinensis) once the nuts have begun to form. Larvae tunnel into husks and nuts of the host plant. Overwintering occurs as mature larvae in husks on the ground. Pupation occurs in the late winter and early spring. Adults are present April through September. There are 4–5 generations in southern states. Larvae may also inhabit galls formed by Hemiptera and other insects.

Members of the Juglandaceae (pecan, hickory, and walnut) are the only recorded hosts. Larvae are occasional pests in commercial pecan orchards.

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.