Platynota labiosana (Zeller) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Sparganothini)
Synonyms: rubiginis (Platynota)
FWL: 6.0–7.8 mm (males); 7.0–9.0 mm (females)
Head, thorax yellow to reddish orange; labial palpi long, porrect; ground color of forewing pale orange-tan; patches of raised scales present in rows; subapical blotch and costal third of median fascia brown; median fascia usually incomplete; male with forewing costal fold present; hindwing pale yellow to orange.
Male genitalia are characterized by a slender, slightly curved uncus; socii, large, well-developed with a dorsal lobe; and broad, subrectangular valvae. Female genitalia are characterized by a broad, cup-shaped sterigma; once-coiled ductus bursae; and signum present as a short, wrinkled band near the base of the corpus bursae.
The larva of Platynota labiosana has not been described, but it is likely similar to other species of Platynota. See MacKay (1962a)MacKay (1962a):
MacKay, M. R. 1962a. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 28: 1-182., Powell and Brown (2012)Powell and Brown (2012):
Powell, J. A., Brown, J. W. 2012. Tortricoidea, Tortricidae (part): Tortricinae (part): Sparganothini and Atteriini. In: Hodges, R. W. (ed.). The Moths of North America, fascicle 8.1. Wedge Entomological Research Foundation, Washington, D.C., 230 pp., and the larval accounts of Platynota spp. on this site.
Platynota labiosana is very similar to several other species of Platynota, especially P. polingi, P. blanchardi, and P. nigrocervina. It can usually be identified by the combination of the following features: incomplete median fascia, semicircular subbasal blotch (as opposed to triangular); and orange hindwing.
Platynota labiosana is broadly distributed in the southwestern United States, with records from east Texas west to southern California and north to Utah and Colorado. Specimens collected in Baja California and Nuevo Leon, Mexico also likely represent this species (Powell and Brown 2012Powell and Brown 2012:
Powell, J. A., Brown, J. W. 2012. Tortricoidea, Tortricidae (part): Tortricinae (part): Sparganothini and Atteriini. In: Hodges, R. W. (ed.). The Moths of North America, fascicle 8.1. Wedge Entomological Research Foundation, Washington, D.C., 230 pp.). Reports from southern Mexico and Honduras (Powell and Opler 2009Powell and Opler 2009:
Powell, J. A., Opler, P. A. 2009. Moths of western North America. University of California Press, Berkeley. 369 pp.) require confirmation.
Little is known about the life cycle of Platynota labiosana beyond a list of known host plants. Like other members of Platynota, it appears to be broadly polyphagous. Adults have been collected from April through September, likely representing two generations (Powell and Brown 2012Powell and Brown 2012:
Powell, J. A., Brown, J. W. 2012. Tortricoidea, Tortricidae (part): Tortricinae (part): Sparganothini and Atteriini. In: Hodges, R. W. (ed.). The Moths of North America, fascicle 8.1. Wedge Entomological Research Foundation, Washington, D.C., 230 pp.).
View full screen host table here
Authors: KA Austin, TM Gilligan, ME Epstein
Content last updated May 2025
idtools.org
TortAI tool images at ipmimages.org - ITP Node
