Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
weighed down with ice (e.g. that formed on
bushes during early-spring frost protection meas-
ures) or with maturing fruit.
BIOLOGY
Moths are active in sunny weather in June and
July. They fly rapidly within black currant
plantations and often visit nearby flowers to feed
on nectar. Eggs are laid singly on the stems of
host plants and hatch in approximately 10 days.
The larvae then bore into the central pith to
feed. They complete their development in the
following spring and then pupate just beneath
the bark.
Fig.
272 Forewing of
Phyllonorycter blancardella
(xl5).
Family GRACILLARIIDAE
Phyllonorycter blancardella
(F.)
This generally abundant moth is a minor pest of
apple. The larvae form blotch mines in the
leaves, and these distort the lamina. This species
is a particularly damaging orchard pest in conti-
nental Europe and North America.
DESCRIPTION
Adult
17-21 mm wingspan;
body
mainly metallic
bluish-black, with narrow yellow cross-bands on
the abdomen;
wings
mainly hyaline and scale-
less, but venation and borders brownish-black
(see Fig. 117).
Larva
up to 15mm long;
body
creamish-white;
head
light brown.
BIOLOGY
First-generation adults of this bivoltine species
emerge in May. Eggs are laid on the underside of
leaves and hatch 2-3 weeks later. Larvae mine
singly within the leaves for 5-6 weeks. Each larva
then pupates within its mine. A second flight of
adults appears in August but sometimes earlier.
Their progeny overwinter as pupae within mines
on fallen leaves.
Synanthedon myopaeformis
(Borkhausen)
Apple clearwing moth
This species is a pest of fruit trees, especially
apple. The larvae tunnel within the bark and are
usually to be found on already debilitated or
dying trees. Adults (20-25 mm wingspan) are
mainly black with a conspicuous red band on the
abdomen. They occur in July and are sometimes
observed flying during sunshine, when they also
visit flowers to imbibe nectar. Larvae (up to
17 mm long) are mainly creamish-white, with a
brown head; they feed for almost 2 years before
eventually pupating.
DESCRIPTION
Adult
8-9 mm wingspan;
forewings
dark copper-
brown with brilliant white, dark-edged markings
(Fig. 272);
hindwings
dark grey.
Larva
up to
5 mm long;
body
yellow and translucent;
head
pale brown.
Family SESIIDAE (clearwing moths)
Synanthedon tipuliformis
(Clerck)
Currant clearwing moth
Family CHOREUTIDAE
Choreutis pariana
(Clerck)
larva -
Apple leaf skeletonizer
Infestations of this pest occur mainly on black
currant; other closely related hosts, including
gooseberry, are also attacked. The larvae bore
within the pith of branches. Damaged branches
often break off, especially in strong winds and if
This species is a potentially damaging pest of
fruit trees, especially apple and pear. The larvae
graze away extensive areas of leaf tissue, dam-
aged tissue turning brown.
