Paralobesia spp.

Status

EXOTIC | NATIVE

DOMESTIC SURVEY

Taxonomy

Paralobesia Obraztsov (Tortricidae: Olethreutinae: Olethreutini)

Overview

The genus Paralobesia was recently revised by Royals et al. (2019)Royals et al. (2019):
Royals, H. R., J-F. Landry, T. M. Gilligan. 2019. Paralobesia (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a systematic revision. Memoirs of the Lepidopterists#39; Society, No. 6. Washington, D.C. 149 pp. to include 45 species, 42 of which occur in North America. The remaining three species, including the type species, occur in Europe and Asia Minor. In North America, the vast majority of species occur in the east.

Eggs are often laid in developing flower buds of the host plant in which young larvae feed before moving on to feeding in fruits or rolling leaves. Most species pupate in rolled leaves or in leaf litter. Overwintering most commonly occurs in the pupal stage with adults eclosing in the spring. Most species are multivoltine, with up to four generations per year in some species in the southern United States. Levels of host specialization appears to be somewhat variable in Paralobesia, with some species apparently monophagous while others oligophagous or polyphagous.

With the exception of Paralobesia viteana, the grape berry moth, species of Paralobesia are not considered significant pests. Lobesia botrana, the European grape vine moth, is a superficially similar and closely related species that is also a serious pest of grape (Vitis spp.).

Wing pattern among species of Paralobesia is remarkably similar, typically consisting of a pale orange-brown or dark brown ground color overlaid with a intricate and complex network of pale yellow or orange fasciae, which are often heavily suffused with chalky blue-gray scaling. Males lack a forewing costal fold. The hindwing color varies from white to dark brown. Forewing length ranges from 4.0–8.0 mm.

Male genitalia are characterized by a poorly-developed uncus and three discrete clusters of spines on the sacculus: the first two at the distal end of the sacculus separated by a deep excavation and the third at the base of the sacculus. Female genitalia are characterized by sterigma positioned in a membranous pocket behind sternum VII and ductus bursae typically with two accessory sacs at the distal end.

Plant Associations

View full screen host table here

Links

Additional photos and distribution maps for species in North America are available at Moth Photographers Group.