Sparganothis pilleriana

Status

EXOTIC

PORT INTERCEPT

Taxonomy

Sparganothis pilleriana (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Sparganothini)

Common names: long-nosed twist, grapevine leafroller, grape leaf-roller, vine tortrix

Synonyms: danticana (Pyralis), luteolana (Tortrix), obscurana (Oenophthira pilleriana ab.), pillerana (Pyralis), uniformata (Sparganothis pilleriana form), vitana (Pyralis), vitis (Pyralis)

Adult Recognition

FWL: 8.5–11.0 mm

Head, thorax golden brown. Labial palpi long, porrect. Forewing with ground color yellow to golden brown with three brown fasciae crossing the wing: one from one-third length of costa to midpoint of inner margin, the second from two-thirds length of costa to just below the tornus, and the third bordering the termen; a basal fascia may or may not be completely developed; fringe concolorous with ground color. Hindwing brown; fringe yellow to golden brown.

Male genitalia are characterized by a long, slender uncus; narrow, elongate, well-developed socii; mesally spined transtilla; and broad, trapezoidal valvae with a short spine near the base of the sacculus. Female genitalia are characterized by a broad, quadrate sterigma; globose ostium; and signum present in the corpus bursae as a short, wrinkled band.

Larval Morphology

The following account is summarized from Frolov (2008)Frolov (2008):
Frolov, A. N. 2008. Sparganothis pilleriana Den. et Schiff. In : Afonin, A. N., Greene, S. L., Dzyubenko, N. I., Frolov, A. N. (eds.). 2008. Interactive Agricultural Ecological Atlas of Russia and Neighboring Countries. Economic Plants and their Diseases, Pests and Weeds. http://www.agroatlas.ru/en/content/pests/Sparganothis_pilleriana/index.html [accessed 22 October 2020].

The mature larva is 18–30 mm in length; body greenish-gray or dirty-green in color with head and prothoracic dark brown.

Pupae are 9–18 mm long, at first green, then becoming glossy brown with age.

Similar Species

Sparganothis pilleriana is very similar to several other species of Sparganothis, especially S. senecionana. Dissection of the genitalia may be required to positively identify S. pilleriana.

Distribution

Sparganothis pilleriana is found across the Palearctic region, from southern Great Britain, Spain, and Germany east to Asia Minor, Russia, China, and Japan. Frolov (2008)Frolov (2008):
Frolov, A. N. 2008. Sparganothis pilleriana Den. et Schiff. In : Afonin, A. N., Greene, S. L., Dzyubenko, N. I., Frolov, A. N. (eds.). 2008. Interactive Agricultural Ecological Atlas of Russia and Neighboring Countries. Economic Plants and their Diseases, Pests and Weeds. http://www.agroatlas.ru/en/content/pests/Sparganothis_pilleriana/index.html [accessed 22 October 2020] mentions it occurring in Central America, but this is likely based on a misidentification of one of countless native species of Sparganothini found in the region.

Biology

The following account is summarized from Frolov (2008)Frolov (2008):
Frolov, A. N. 2008. Sparganothis pilleriana Den. et Schiff. In : Afonin, A. N., Greene, S. L., Dzyubenko, N. I., Frolov, A. N. (eds.). 2008. Interactive Agricultural Ecological Atlas of Russia and Neighboring Countries. Economic Plants and their Diseases, Pests and Weeds. http://www.agroatlas.ru/en/content/pests/Sparganothis_pilleriana/index.html [accessed 22 October 2020].

Typically, there is a single generation per year in Europe, but in warmer areas a second generation can occur. Eggs are flat, oval, and laid in clusters of up to 175, covered with a protective excretion from the female on the upper surface of host plant leaves. Eggs hatch in 9–20 days, depending on temperature. First instar larvae typically do not eat after hatching and instead overwinter in dense cocoons in bark crevices or in soil to a depth of 10 cm. Feeding begins in the spring (usually between late March and early May), with larvae initially attacking buds, then moving on to skeletonize leaves by spinning two neighbor leaflets and eating parenchyma. Larvae take 30–50 days to reach pupation and will spin more pairs of leaves together if necessary to complete growth. Adults eclose 10–15 days later. Adult life span averages about three weeks and average fecundity is about 200–250 eggs (maximum 450).

Though best known as a pest of grape (Vitis spp.), Sparganothis pilleriana is known to feed on over 100 species of plants in 30+ families. The following table is not a complete list.

Plant Associations

View full screen host table here