Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 309 Wingless female mottled umber moth,
Erannis defoliaria (x3).
Fig. 311 Male winter moth, Operophtera brumata
(x3).
fruits, including blueberry, currant and goose-
berry. The larvae destroy unopened buds and
also invade the leaves and blossom trusses.
Later, attacks on apple fruitlets often result
in the development on malformed fruit with
corky scars and deep cavities extending to the
core.
BIOLOGY
Moths are most numerous in November and
December. Eggs are laid singly on the bark of
host trees and they hatch in the early spring.
Very young larvae are often blown about on fine
threads of silk and, by this means, are often able
to invade previously uninfested trees. Older lar-
vae are relatively sedentary and secrete them-
selves amongst webbed leaves or blossom
trusses. Larvae feed until late May or early June
and then pupate in the soil, each in a flimsy,
silken cocoon.
Fig. 310 Male mottled umber moth, Erannis
defoliaria (x3).
35 mm long; body reddish-brown with yellow or
whitish markings on the side of the abdomen,
and a black line above the spiracles; two pairs of
abdominal prolegs; spiracles white, black-ringed
and often surrounded by reddish patches; head
reddish-brown.
DESCRIPTION
Adult female 5-6 mm long, dark greyish-brown,
and virtually wingless. Adult male 22-28mm
wingspan; forewings rounded, pale greyish-
brown with wavy cross-lines; hindwings pale grey
(Fig. 311). Larva up to 25mm long; body green
with whitish or yellowish-white longitudinal
lines, including one passing through the spiracles
(Fig. 312); two pairs of abdominal prolegs (cf.
March moth, Alsophila aescularia, p. 229); head
green.
Operophtera brumata (L.)
Winter moth
This species is an important orchard pest, espe-
cially of apple; infestations also occur on bush
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