Paralobesia viteana (Clemens) (Tortricidae: Olethreutinae: Olethreutini)
Common names: grape berry moth
Synonyms: vitivorana (Penthina)
FWL: 3.9–5.6 mm
Forewing pattern is similar to other Nearctic species of Paralobesia and Lobesia botrana. The ground color is orange-brown with the basal half of the forewing heavily suffused with chalky blue scales. The fasciae on the distal half of the wing are curved and irregular. Males lack a forewing costal fold. The hindwing is brown, but paler basally.
Male genitalia are characterized by a rudimentary uncus and sclerotized lobes projecting from the base of the cucullus. Female genitalia are characterized by a sterigma situated in a membranous pocket behind 7th sternite and a corpus bursae without a signum but with two small accessory sacs.
The specimens purported to be Paralobesia viteana examined by MacKay (1959)MacKay (1959):
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338. were collected in southwest Utah, well outside the known range of the species and are questionable. Ensminger (1958)Ensminger (1958):
Ensminger, L.G. 1958. Identification of stored product insects by the micromorphology of the exoskeleton. VIII. Moth larvae. Journal of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists. 41: 704 –738. provided detailed descriptions and figures of larvae, but these may also be based on incorrectly identified specimens. There are several discrepancies between both accounts. In the absence of any other published descriptions, 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 10–15 mm in length; head yellowish brown; prothoracic shield similarly colored with dark brown to black on the posterior and lateral margin; body yellowish green to pale brown; anal fork present with 5–8 teeth; SV group on A1, 2, 7, 8, 9 numbering 3:3:3:2:2.
Adults can be confused with those of Lobesia botrana, which was discovered in California in 2008–2009. Adults of Paralobesia viteana and L. botrana cannot be separated by wing pattern; a genitalic dissection is necessary to confirm identity.
Paralobesia viteana can be separated from other species of Paralobesia and from Lobesia botrana by the protrusion of a large paintbrush-like lobe extending from the base of the cucullus in males. Females are separated from other species of Paralobesia by the shape of the shape of the sterigma (Royals et al. 2019Royals 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.).
No morphological characters have been identified to reliably separate the larvae of Paralobesia and Lobesia (but see comments under "Larval Morphology"). Should P. viteana be introduced to the West Coast, or L. botrana reintroduced to the United States, molecular diagnostics may be required to identify larvae found on grape (Vitis sp.).
Paralobesia viteana is widespread in grape-growing regions of eastern North America. It has also been recently recorded from vineyards in western Colorado. Historical records from Utah (MacKay 1959MacKay 1959:
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338.) are questionable.
This species has not been reported from California or the grape-growing regions of the Pacific Northwest.
The following account is summarized from Witzgall et al. (2000)Witzgall et al. (2000):
Witzgall, P., Bengtsson, M., Trimble, R. M. 2000. Sex pheromone of grape berry moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Environmental Entomology. 29: 433-436. and references therein.
Paralobesia viteana completes 2–4 generations per year, depending on location. Adults of the various generations are present March to August.
Females lay eggs on individual grapes (Vitis spp.), blossoms, and stems. Larvae of the first generation feed on blossoms or small berries, often webbing together entire clusters. Larvae of subsequent generations tunnel into the berries and feed inside, also webbing together clusters. Mature larvae exit the clusters and pupate in a crescent-shaped fold cut into a leaf. Larvae of the last generation may also drop to the ground and pupate in leaf litter. Overwintering occurs in the pupal stage.
Grape (Vitis spp.) is the preferred larval host, although several secondary hosts have been documented. This species is the primary lepidopteran pest of grapes in eastern North America.
View full screen host table here
Authors: KA Austin, TM Gilligan, ME Epstein
Content last updated May 2025
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