Sparganothini is a relatively small but well-defined tribe of variably-sized tortricids that occur almost exclusively in the New World. At present, there are approximately 250 described species in about 20 genera. The monophyly of the tribe is well supported by several morphological characters: subbasally attached socii, reduction or loss of the gnathos, a centrally spined transtilla, phallus with deciduous cornuti, and eggs laid in patches and covered with a colleterial secretion.
Many species can be quickly recognized by the extremely long labial palpi present in most genera and raised forewing scales present in genera such as Platynota and Synalocha. There is a general trend for many sparganothines to possess a yellow or yellow-orange forewing, though there are many exceptions and this is no means unique to Sparganothini.
Members of this tribe tend to be highly polyphagous leaf rollers, including some very economically significant pest species. We include several of these pest species on this site, as well as several commonly-encountered non-pest species.
An excellent account of the taxonomic history of the tribe, detailed descriptions of larval, pupal, and adult morphology, life history information, and a summary of the known North American fauna is available in 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..
Included species:
Exotic species
Native species
Authors: KA Austin, TM Gilligan, ME Epstein
Content last updated May 2025
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