| Archips xylosteana | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Tortricidae |
| Genus: | Archips |
| Species: | A. xylosteana |
| Binomial name | |
| Archips xylosteana | |
| Synonyms | |
List
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Archips xylosteana, the variegated golden tortrix or brown oak tortrix, is a moth of the family Tortricidae.
This Palearctic moth is widespread in most of Europe, in Asia (China, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Siberia, Turkey), and in northern Africa (Algeria). [2] [3] [4]
This moth species inhabit woodland and scrub in hilly and mountainous areas. [5] [6]
Archips xylosteana is a medium-sized to large moth with a wingspan reaching 14–23 millimetres (0.55–0.91 in). [6] The females are usually slightly larger than the males. The basic color of the fore wings varies from yellow-brown or ocher to pinkish brown, mottled with dark reddish brown markings. Forewings are broad and roughly rectangular. Hind wings are light grayish brown. [4] The design of the wings may appear lightly asymmetric, because at rest one of the wing covers the other [4] and hides part of it. The caterpillar varies from whitish gray to bluish with greenish reflections and have a black head. [4] Meyrick describes it - Forewings with termen sinuate, vertical, costal fold from base to 3/5, irregular; ochreous more or less fuscous-tinged, paler towards costa; a transverse dorsal spot near base, central fascia with anterior edge sinuate, costal patch broadly connected with it near costa, a blotch from above tornus sometimes connected with costal patch, and an apical spot dark ferruginous-brown. Hindwings grey, apex sometimes yellowish-tinged. Larva whitish-grey or pale greenish; head black;plate of 2 black, anterior edge white. [7] Julius von Kennel provides a full description. [8]
These moths fly from June to August in one generation. [4] [6] They rest during the day in the foliage of trees and shrubs. Their activity begins at dusk. [6] They overwinter on tree trunks and thick boughs.
Caterpillars grow protected in a rolled leaf, perpendicularly to the midrib, from April to June. These larvae are polyphagous, feeding on various shrubs and deciduous trees, [4] mainly oak ( Quercus ), elm ( Ulmus ), linden ( Tilia ), hazel ( Corylus ), maples (Acer), ash ( Fraxinus , firs ( Abies ), brambles ( Rubus ), honeysuckle ( Lonicera ) and St John's worts ( Hypericum )). [5] They can also be found on various fruit trees (apple, pear, etc.) [9] and on some herbaceous plants.
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