Light Brown Apple Moth
Pest Alert: Light brown apple moth in California (click here for more information)
(Click on an image below to see the captioned full-size version) |
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Scientific Name:
Epiphyas postvittana
Common Name: Light Brown Apple Moth
Known Hosts:
This moth is reported to feed and develop on more than 200 plant species in 120 plant genera in 50 families. Hosts include fruits (apples, blueberry, peach, pear, strawberry, grapes, citrus), broadleaved weeds (plantain), vegetables (cabbage, corn, pepper, tomatoes), trees (oak, willow, poplar, walnut) and ornamentals (roses, chrysanthemums, dahlia). See the E. postvittana mini risk assessment for a full list of host plants:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/pest_detection/downloads/pra/epostvittanapra.pdf
Key ID Features and Life Cycle: |
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The light brown apple moth has up to 4 generations per year in its native range, Australia. |
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Females have a wingspan of about 2 cm. The forewings are a yellowish-brown color with markings that are less distinct than in the male moth. (Figure 1) |
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Males are much smaller than females. The forewings of the male are yellowish-brown at the base of the wing with darker, red-brown markings towards the tip. Markings can be quite variable. (Figure 1) |
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Eggs are flattened and laid in groups on the upper surface of leaves. (Figure 2) |
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Young larvae are tiny (a few mm long) with a yellow-green body and brown head. Larvae are 10-18 mm in length at maturity and green in color. (Figure 3) |
Similar species or symptoms:
Other native tortricid moths such as redbanded leafroller and the obliquebanded leafroller are known to attack apples. See the following sources for more information on apple pests:
New England Pest Management Guide for Apples
http://extension.umass.edu/fruitadvisor/publications/management-guides/2013-new-england-tree-fruit-management-guide
Redbanded Leafroller (Argyrotaenia veultinana), Cornell Cooperative Extension
http://nysipm.cornell.edu/factsheets/treefruit/pests/rblr/rblr.pdf
Obliquebanded Leafroller (Choristoneura rosaceana), Cornell - New York State Integrated Pest Management Program
http://nysipm.cornell.edu/nysipm/factsheets/treefruit/pests/oblr/oblr.pdf
Fact sheets and references:
Light brown apple moth project: California Department of Agriculture
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pdep/lbam/lbam_main.html
Light brown apple moth: USDA, APHIS Plant Health
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/lba_moth/index.shtml
LBAM Identification Information: USDA APHIS Identification Technology Program
http://itp.lucidcentral.org/id/lep/lbam/Epiphyas_postvittana.htm
R.C Venette, E. E. Davis, M. DaCosta, H. Heisler, and. M Larson. 2003. Mini Risk Assessment Light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker)
[Lepidoptera: Tortricidae]. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/pest_detection/downloads/pra/epostvittanapra.pdf
Light brown apple moth page from Totricid.net
http://www.tortricidae.com/lbam.asp
Light Brown Apple Moth in Orchards- Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Victoria, Australia
http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/agriculture-and-food/pests-diseases-and-weeds/pest-insects-and-mites/light-brown-apple-moth-in-orchards
Light Brown Apple Moth in Citrus- Department of Environment and Primary Industries, New South Wales, Australia
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/horticulture/citrus/health/pests/light-brown-apple-moth-citrus
last reviewed December 22, 2014 |