Ditula angustiorana

Status

ADVENTIVE

PORT INTERCEPT | DOMESTIC SURVEY

Taxonomy

Ditula angustiorana (Haworth) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)

Common names: apricot moth, vine tortrix, red-barred tortrix, narrow-winged red-bar

Synonyms: augustiorana (Ditula), dumeriliana (Paedisca), rotundana (Tortrix), saturana (Capua)

Adult Recognition

FWL: 6.0–7.5 mm

Ditula angustiorana is a noticeably sexually dimorphic species. Males have the head, thorax, and thoracic tuft dark glossy gray; forewing with fasciae pale yellow-orange, often heavily suffused with pink-orange or dark glossy gray scaling; distal area of forewing often with distinct black horizontal streaks; costal fold present, well-developed, covered in dark glossy gray scaling; and hindwing dark gray or black. Female have the head, thorax pink-orange, thoracic tuft orange-brown; forewing with ground color pink-orange; median fascia orange-brown; distal area of forewing similar to male; and hindwing similar to male.

Male genitalia are characterized by short, broad, quadrate uncus; valvae somewhat rectangular; phallus pistol-shaped. Female genitalia are characterized by broad, funnel-like sterigma; long, relatively broad ductus bursae; dagger-like signum.

Larval Morphology

The following account is summarized from MacKay (1962a)MacKay (1962a):
MacKay, M. R. 1962a. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 28: 1-182..

Mature larva approximately 12–14 mm; width of head 1.2–1.4 mm; head brownish yellow, darker pigmentation present laterally; thoracic shield typically yellow, fading to brown in some specimens; pinacula brownish; legs yellow; body pale; anal fork moderately developed; SV group on A1, 2, 7, 8, 9 typically 3:3:3:2:2.

Detailed figures of larval chaetotaxy are available in MacKay (1962a)MacKay (1962a):
MacKay, M. R. 1962a. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 28: 1-182..

Similar Species

Ditula angustiorana could be confused with several species of Argyrotaenia, such as A. pinatubana and A. velutinana, but these species do not occur in the western United States and lack a costal fold. The genitalia of the two genera are very distinct.

Distribution

Ditula angustiorana is broadly distributed in Europe. It was introduced into North America in the late 1920s and now can be found from British Columbia south to California.

Biology

The following account is summarized from van Frankenhuyzen and De Jong (1980)van Frankenhuyzen and De Jong (1980):
van Frankenhuyzen, A., De Jong, D. J. 1980. [Observations on Ditula angustiorana (Haworth) (Lep., Tortricidae)]. Entomologische Berichten. 40. 179-183 [In Dutch]..

In the Netherlands, there is a single generation per year. Eggs are laid in late June and early July in small clusters on the leaves or needles of the host plant. Larvae hatch in approximately two weeks. They then disperse and begin feeding, but very slowly before constructing hibernacula by spinning leaves or needles together. Activity ceases in early September by which point the larvae have only grown a little. Overwintering larvae resume feeding in the spring and pupation takes place in a spun silken shelter. Adults eclose in mid to late June. The life cycle of this species in North America is virtually identical except larvae seem to prefer yew (Taxus spp.), whereas in Europe they are more polyphagous.

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.