The following screening aids are designed for use in domestic surveys (using pheromone traps) for adult tortricid moths. These species are commonly included in the USDA's Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program.
Adoxophyes orana (summer fruit tortrix) adult screening aid
Archips xylosteana (variegated golden tortrix) adult screening aid
Epiphyas postvittana (light brown apple moth - LBAM) adult screening aid
Eupoecilia ambiguella (European grape berry moth) adult screening aid
Lobesia botrana (European grape vine moth - EGVM) adult screening aid
Thaumatotibia leucotreta (false codling moth - FCM) adult screening aid
The following identification guides can be used in domestic surveys for adult tortricid moths.
Gilligan, T.M. 2014. Guide to identifying Grapholita [=Aspila] from CAPS traps in the eastern United States. https://idtools.org/id/leps/tortai/Grapholita%20ID%20aid.pdf
Marquis, R.J., Passoa, S.C.; Lill, J.T., Whitfield, J.B., Le Corff, J., Forkner, R.E., Passoa, V.A. 2019. Illustrated guide to the immature Lepidoptera on oaks in Missouri. FHAAST-2018-05. Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Health Assessment and Applied Sciences Team. 369 pp. https://www.fs.usda.gov/foresthealth/technology/pdfs/FHAAST-2018-05_Immature_Lepidoptera_Oaks.pdf
Adler, C.R.L. 1991. Identification of pupae on apple in eastern North America, pp. 51–64. In L. P. S. van der Geest and H. H. Evenhuis [Eds.]. Tortricid pests: their biology, natural enemies, and control. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
The following resources are designed to be used by larval identifiers working at United States ports of entry:
LepIntercept: An identification resource for intercepted Lepidoptera larvae
Tortricid.net is the largest repository of tortricid information on the internet. Includes resources such as the Online World Catalogue of the Tortricidae and the Food Plant Database for the Leafrollers of the World.
The following publications are a result of collaboration between the authors of TortID and other individuals and institutions during work on TortID or LBAM ID. Specific persons are listed in the Acknowledgments.
Gilligan, T. M., Brown, J. W., Hoddle, M. S. 2011. A new avocado pest in Central America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) with a key to Lepidoptera larvae threatening avocados in California. Zootaxa. 3137: 31–45.
Gilligan, T. M., Epstein, M. E., Passoa, S. C., Powell, J. A., Sage, O. C., Brown, J. W. 2011. Discovery of Lobesia botrana ([Denis & Schiffermuller]) in California: an invasive species new to North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 113(1): 14–30.
Barr, N. B., Ledezma, L. A., Farris, R. E., Epstein, M. E., Gilligan, T. M. 2011. A multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay to diagnose Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 104(5): 1706–1719.
Tooman, L. K., Rose, C. J. , Carraher, C., Suckling, D. M., Paquette, S. R., Ledezma, L. A., Gilligan, T. M., Epstein, M., Barr, N. B., Newcomb, R. D.. 2011. Patterns of mitochondrial haplotype diversity in the invasive pest Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 104(3): 920–932.
Gilligan, T. M., Epstein, M. E., Hoffman, K. M. 2011. Discovery of false codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick), in California (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 113(4): 426–435.
Gilligan, T. M., Epstein, M. E. 2011. The European grape vine moth not found in California: Eupoecilia ambiguella (Hubner), pp. 32-34. In Plant Pest Diagnostics Center Annual Report 2010. California Department of Agriculture, Sacramento, CA.
Brown, J. W., Epstein, M. E., Gilligan, T. M., Passoa, S., Powell, J. A. 2010. Biology, identification, and history of the light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Archipini) in California: an example of the importance of local faunal surveys to document the establishment of exotic insects. American Entomologist. 56(1): 34–43.
Barr, N. B., Ledezma, L. A., Vasquez, J. D., Epstein, M. E., Kerr, P. H., Kinnee, S., Sage, O., Gilligan, T. M. 2009. Molecular identification of the light brown apple moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in California using a polymerase chain reaction assay of the internal transcribed spacer 2 locus. Journal of Economic Entomology. 102(6): 2333–2342.
Authors: KA Austin, TM Gilligan, ME Epstein
Content last updated May 2025
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TortAI tool images at ipmimages.org - ITP Node
