Synonyms: cnemoptila (Acharneodes), pithecolobiae (Gymnandrosoma), sideropetra (Argyroploce), sideroptera (Gymnandrosoma), torticornis (Argyroploce)
FWL: 6.0–8.5 mm (males); 8.0–10.5 mm (females)
Adults are dark brown with indistinct reddish-brown and black markings. A conspicuous white dot is present on the distal one-third of the forewing in most individuals. Males lack a forewing costal fold, antennae flattened at the base, with an antennal notch, and a large hair-pencil on the hind tibia. The hindwings are dark brown.
Male genitalia are characterized by the absence of an uncus, a large cucullus with a few short, stout setae on the distal margin, and a dense row of about 130 deciduous cornuti in the vesica. Female genitalia are characterized by a cestum in the ductus bursae that is closer to the ostium than the ductus seminalis and two large, horn-like signa in the corpus bursae.
The following account is summarized from Adamski and Brown (2001)Adamski and Brown (2001):
Adamski, D., Brown, J. W. 2001. Systematic revision of the Ecdytolopha group of genera (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Grapholitini) in the New World. Entomologica Scandinavica Supplement 58. 86 pp..
Late instar larvae are approximately 16–19 mm in length. Abdominal pinacula are large and well defined. The head is pale yellow to pale orange, and the prothoracic shield is pale yellow, usually without darker mottling. Other larval characters include: distance between V setae on A9 1.5 times the distance between V setae on A8; SV pinacula on A9 unisetose; and 40–50 crochets on the abdominal prolegs.
Males can be separated from other species of Gymnandrosoma by the flattened, notchlike basal portion of the antenna and large hair-pencil on the hind tibia. Females may need to be dissected to confirm identity.
Larvae are similar to other species in the Cryptophlebia-Ecdytolopha group, with an enlarged L-pinaculum on the prothorax that extends beneath (and usually beyond) the spiracle. Larvae of Gymnandrosoma can be separated from those of Ecdytolopha by the distance between the V setae on A9: approximately the same as the distance between Vs on A8 in Ecdytolopha and 1.2–2.0 times the distance between Vs on A8 in Gymnandrosoma.
Gymnandrosoma aurantianum is found in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
Gymnandrosoma larvae (including G. aurantianum) are intercepted frequently on a variety of imports from Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. As most species were placed in Ecdytolopha prior to Adamski and Brown's revision (2001), interception records for Ecdytolopha could refer to species in either genus.
The following account is summarized from White and Tuck (1994)White and Tuck (1994):
White, G. L., Tuck, K. R. 1994. Outbreak of Ecdytolopha aurantianum (Lima) on citrus in Trinidad. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Plant Protection Bulletin. 41: 130-132. and Adamski and Brown (2001)Adamski and Brown (2001):
Adamski, D., Brown, J. W. 2001. Systematic revision of the Ecdytolopha group of genera (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Grapholitini) in the New World. Entomologica Scandinavica Supplement 58. 86 pp..
Gymnandrosoma aurantianum has a relatively short life cycle (36 days from egg to adult), allowing it to complete up to 10 generations per year if the appropriate host plants are available. Adults may be present year-round.
Females lay eggs on mature fruit. Larvae tunnel into fruit and consume the seeds, or they may occasionally feed on leaves and stems. Pupation occurs in the soil. Larval damage to fruit may lead to secondary infection by fungus and bacteria.
Larvae of G. aurantianum can be pests on cultivated macadamia, citrus, and other tropical fruits.
Authors: KA Austin, TM Gilligan, ME Epstein
Content last updated May 2025
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