Included species:
Accuminulia Brown (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Cochylini)
Chileulia Powell (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Cochylini)
Proeulia Clarke (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Cochylini)
The Chilean Tortricidae fauna is unique in that the majority of taxa are endemic. Members of the tribe Euliini are the most abundant, comprising nearly 90% of the described tortricid fauna. Included in this tribe are several genera containing species of economic concern: Proeulia, with 41 described species; Accuminulia, with two described species; and Chileulia with two described species. Species in these genera have been reported feeding on Citrus (orange, tangerine), Malus (apple), Prunus (apricot, cherry, peach, plum), Pyrus (pear), and Vitis (grape), and some are considered serious pests in orchards and vineyards. Razowski and Pelz (2010)Razowski and Pelz (2010):
Razowski, J., Pelz, V. 2010. Tortricidae from Chile (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia. 38: 5-55. and Brown (2024)Brown (2024):
Brown, J. W. 2024. New genera and species of tortricid moths from Chile and Argentina (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Zootaxa. 5551(1): 51-90. provide a complete list of tortricids recorded from Chile and described numerous new genera and species.
Chilean tortricids of greatest concern to the United States are those that are pests of table grapes. The United States imports nearly twice as many grapes as it exports; imported grapes totaled approximately $730 million in 2004. A majority of the fresh grapes imported to the United States are used as table grapes and imports are necessary to maintain a supply of table grapes during the months of January through June. Chile is the largest exporter of grapes to the United States, accounting for 70% of total fresh grape imports ($511 million in 2004); Mexico accounts for 28% of fresh grape imports.
It is not known how many Chilean tortricid species are intercepted in products destined for the United States. In 2011, the USDA/APHIS interceptionsUSDA/APHIS interceptions:
USDA/APHIS interceptions. Based on larvae intercepted by USDA-APHIS personnel at U.S. ports-of-entry and identified by Systematic Entomology Laboratory personnel. database had fewer than 10 records of "Proeulia sp." and no records of Accuminulia or Chileulia; however, there were more than 1,000 entries of larvae identified as "Tortricinae" and close to 3,000 identified as "Tortricidae" from locations where Proeulia and related genera occur. As the larvae of these genera are not well-studied or described, it is assumed that interceptions of these larvae have been largely unrecognized.
Because of the difficulties in identification and the lack of species-level larval characters, Proeulia and related pest Euliini are treated here as a single entity: Proeulia spp.
Accuminulia
FWL: 6.0–8.0 mm
Adults are white, pale tan, or gray with dark gray, brown, and black markings. Males lack a forewing costal fold. Male genitalia are characterized by the following features: aedeagus with distal thornlike projection; transtilla densely spined; gnathos with distal portion enlarged, triangular, and ventrally spined; and valvae with constant width (parallel-sided). Female genitalia are characterized by a partially twisted ductus bursae and a lack of signum in the corpus bursae.
Chileulia
FWL: 6.5–8.0 mm
Forewings are gray or brown with a dark gray to black costal triangle. Male genitalia are characterized by a short thin uncus, small broad socii, long narrow valvae, and a well-developed sacculus. Female genitalia are characterized by a bowl-shaped sterigma and a long thin ductus bursae.
Proeulia
FWL: 7.0–12.0 mm
Forewing color is variable within the genus and ranges from pale tan to orange to dark brown to white. Forewing markings are generally sparse to moderate, and several species are nearly unmarked. Males lack a forewing costal fold. Male genitalia are characterized by the following features: uncus slender, varying from long to short; socii well-developed, varying from long to short, densely setose in some species; valva with well-developed sacculus, extending beyond neck of valva in some species; vesica with few stout cornuti. Female genitalia are characterized by a short, wide ductus bursae and a sclerotized process projecting from the ventral surface of the corpus bursae (signa are absent).
Mature larvae of this group are similar to those of other Euliini and few species-specific characters have been identified. Horak and Brown (1991)Horak and Brown (1991):
Horak, M., Brown, R. L. 1991. Taxonomy and phylogeny, pp. 23-50. In : van der Geest, L. P. S., Evenhuis, H. H. (eds.), Tortricid Pests: Their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control. Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. list the following diagnostic characters for Euliini larvae: D1 and SD1 setae on separate pinacula on A9; SV setal counts on A1,2,7,8,9 as 3:3:3:2:2; and V1 setae on A9 not further apart than those on A8. These characters apply to the species treated here with some exceptions: the D1 and SD1 setae on A9 are located on the same pinaculum in some (but not all) Proeulia; and SV setal counts on A1,2,7,8,9 are usually 3:3:2:2:2 (but occasionally 3:3:3:2:2) in Chileulia.
Other diagnostic features of this group include: SD2 seta small and on different pinaculum than SD1 seta on A1-7; SD2 seta on anteroventral margin of SD1 pinaculum on A8; SD1 pinaculum directly anterior of spiracle on A8; D2 setae on A9 on large shared (saddle) pinaculum; L-pinaculum on A9 trisetose; and anal comb present.
General descriptions for each of the genera are provided below.
Accuminula buscki (summarized from Cepeda 2014)
Mature larva approximately 12 mm in length; head brown, dark pigmentation present laterally; prothoracic shield brown, mottled; body reddish, pinacular paler; legs black; anal fork present with 8 teeth. Detailed figures of larval chaetotaxy are available in Cepeda (2014).
Chileulia stalactitis (summarized from Cepeda and Cubillos 2011Cepeda and Cubillos 2011:
Cepeda, D. E., Cubillos, G. E. 2011. Description of the last larval stage and a compilation of host records, of seven species of tortricids of economic importance in Chile (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Gayana. 75: 39-70.)
Mature larva approximately 16 mm in length; head light brown; prothoracic shield light green with brown mottling; body light green; anal fork present with 4–6 teeth; abdominal spiracles closely approximate to the SD1 pinacula and are circular, surrounded by a conspicuous smooth ring. Detailed figures of larval chaetotaxy are available in Cepeda and Cubillos (2011)Cepeda and Cubillos (2011):
Cepeda, D. E., Cubillos, G. E. 2011. Description of the last larval stage and a compilation of host records, of seven species of tortricids of economic importance in Chile (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Gayana. 75: 39-70..
Proeulia (summarized from Cepeda and Cubillos 2011)
Mature larva approximately 22–26 mm in length; head light brown, shaded laterally or postlaterally in some species; prothoracic shield light brown to light green with brown mottling in some species; body light green; anal fork present with 6–9 (usually 7) teeth. Detailed figures of larval chaetotaxy for P. apospasta, P. auraria, and P. chrysopteris are available in Cepeda and Cubillos (2011).
Accuminulia and Chileulia are known exclusively from Chile. The majority of Proeulia are also recorded only from Chile, with the exception of one species that is found in Bolivia.
Species in this group all share relatively similar life histories. Larvae are highly polyphagous and feed on leaves as well as on fruit, sometimes causing serious economic damage to crops such as grape and citrus. The life histories of Chileulia and Proeulia are outlined below; the biology of Accuminulia is unknown beyond host plants.
Chileulia stalactitis
Females lay eggs in masses on leaves. Larvae feed on leaves, flowers, and fruit, causing direct economic damage by tunneling inside fruit. Overwintering occurs as a larva inside dried fruit. Adults are present in August in Chile.
Proeulia spp.
Females lay eggs in masses on leaves. Larvae feed on leaves, flowers, buds, and on the surface of fruit. Some species have continuous generations and are present throughout the year while others overwinter as a first instar larva. Adults are present September through April for most species.
Host plants
Larvae of this group are highly polyphagous and have been reported feeding on plants in more than 30 families. All species listed here are primary or secondary pests of grape. Chileulia stalactitis is an important pest of Prunus while Proeulia are reported as pests of apple, apricot, blueberry, cherry, citrus, peach, plum, and various other species.
Because of the similarities of larvae of all species and their polyphagous nature, host plants are listed below in one table rather than subdivided by genus or species.
Authors: KA Austin, TM Gilligan, ME Epstein
Content last updated May 2025
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