Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 280
Forewing of potato moth,
Phthorimaea
operculella
(xl5).
Fig.
281
Pith moth.
Spuleria atra
(x6).
2-3 weeks. They then emerge to pupate in nar-
row, whitish cocoons formed on potato sacks and
other available surfaces. New adults appear
within 2-4 weeks, depending on temperature.
DESCRIPTION
Adult
10-14 mm wingspan;
forewings
brownish-
grey with two prominent black tufts of scales;
hindwings
grey
(Fig. 281). Larva
up to 10mm
long;
body
brownish-pink;
head, prothoraclc
plate and caudal plates
dark brown (see Fig. 127).
DESCRIPTION
Adult
10-12 mm wingspan;
forewings
mainly
yellowish-grey, peppered with black spots
(Fig.
280);
hindwings
grey, with long hair fringes.
Egg
oval and pearly-white.
Larva
up to 10mm
long;
body
white, suffused with pinkish dorsally
on each segment;
head, prothoraclc plate and
anal plate
brownish-black.
Family COCHYLIDAE
Eupoecilia ambiguella
(Hiibner)
Vine moth
In continental Europe, this species is a pest of
grape vines. Larvae of the first generation dam-
age the flowers; those of the second generation
feed directly on the developing grapes. This spe-
cies occurs on various wild hosts in the British
Isles, where it is univoltine and not recorded as a
pest.
Family MOMPHIDAE
Spuleria atra
(Haworth)
Pith moth
This local pest is occasionally troublesome on
young, unsprayed apple trees. The larvae bore
within the new shoots and cause the leaves to
wilt and die. Damage is of greatest significance
on young trees.
BIOLOGY
Adults occur in the spring, the period of activity
varying from region to region. Eggs are laid on
the buds of grape vines and hatch 1-2 weeks
later. Larvae then spin several buds together and
commence feeding, the shelters becoming more
dense and larger as larval development pro-
gresses. Larvae eventually pupate in folded
leaves, usually after feeding for up to a month,
and adults appear about 2 weeks later. Second-
generation larvae feed on immature fruits and
complete their development in the autumn. They
then spin overwintering cocoons, hidden in or
beneath the bark of older vine stems, or in cracks
on supporting posts.
BIOLOGY
The moths fly in July and August, and deposit
their eggs singly close to the buds or leaf bases.
The eggs hatch in about 2 weeks, and the larvae
enter the bark to burrow inside a shoot or spur
throughout the autumn and winter. In spring,
frass deposits are expelled from the feeding
galleries through surface cracks. Larvae com-
plete their development in June and then pupate
close to the surface. Adults emerge a few weeks
later.
