ITP Logo

Platynota spp.

Status

EXOTIC | NATIVE

PORT INTERCEPT | DOMESTIC SURVEY

Taxonomy

Platynota Clemens (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Sparganothini)

Overview

The genus Platynota contains approximately 35 described species. The highest species diversity is in the Neotropics, although a few species are described from the northern United States and Canada. Adults are sexually dimorphic and wing pattern varies throughout the genus. The forewings of many males are dark brown basally and golden or yellowish brown apically. Female forewings are usually uniformly brown or yellowish brown with dark brown markings. Males have a forewing costal fold. Both sexes often have patches of raised scales on the forewings.

Male genitalia are characterized by a long thin uncus, long, fingerlike socii, and elongate subrectangular valvae. Female genitalia are characterized by a bandlike sterigma and a variably-shaped signum in some species. Labial palpi are elongate in most species.

Three of the six species treated here, P. flavedana, P. idaeusalis, and P. stultana, are pests of various crops, including apple (Malus spp.), citrus (Citrus spp.), grape (Vitis spp.), peach (Prunus persica), pepper (Capsicum spp.), rose (Rosa spp.), and strawberry (Fragaria spp.). Larvae are highly polyphagous and some species, such as P. stultana, have been recorded feeding on plants in more than 20 families. The six species included here are the most common Platynota in the continental United States. Two of these (P. rostrana and P. stultana) have been accidentally introduced to Hawaii. For photos of additional non-targets not covered here, visit the Moth Photographers Group link below.

Larvae of Platynota are commonly intercepted at United States ports of entry on peppers (Capsicum spp.) from the Caribbean and Mexico, and apple (Malus spp.), basil (Ocimum spp.), rose (Rosa spp.), and Rubus spp. from Central and South America. Larvae are difficult to identity using only morphology, and most identifications are based on a host/origin association. Larvae of Platynota may be confused with those of Argyrotaenia, other Archipini, or other Sparganothini.

Native species

Platynota exasperatana

Platynota flavedana

Platynota idaeusalis

Platynota labiosana

Platynota rostrana

Platynota stultana

Links

Additional photos and distribution maps for species in North America are available at Moth Photographers Group.
P . flavedana male
P. flavedana male
P . flavedana female
P. flavedana female
P . idaeusalis  male
P. idaeusalis male
P . idaeusalis female
P. idaeusalis female
P . labiosana  male. © John W. Brown. Image used with permission.
P. labiosana male. © John W. Brown. Image used with permission.
P . labiosana female. © John W. Brown. Image used with permission.
P. labiosana female. © John W. Brown. Image used with permission.
P . rostrana  male. © John W. Brown. Image used with permission.
P. rostrana male. © John W. Brown. Image used with permission.
P . rostrana female. © John W. Brown. Image used with permission.
P. rostrana female. © John W. Brown. Image used with permission.
P . stultana  male
P. stultana male
P . stultana  female
P. stultana female