Ditula angustiorana

Ditula angustiorana
Ditula angustiorana, Graig Fawr, North Wales
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Tortricidae
Genus:	Ditula
Species:	D. angustiorana
Binomial name
Ditula angustiorana (Haworth, 1811) [1]
Synonyms
List Tortrix angustioranaHaworth, [1811] Ditula augustioranaBarrett, 1873 Paedisca dumerilianaDuponchel, in Godart, 1836 Tortrix rotundanaHaworth, [1811] Ditula rotundana(Haworth, 1811) Ditula dumeriliana(Duponchel, 1836)

Ditula angustiorana, the red-barred tortrix, is a moth of the family Tortricidae found in Africa, Asia, Europe and North Africa. Other common names are the fruit-tree tortrix and the vine tortrix. The moth was first described by Adrian Hardy Haworth in 1811.

Description

The wingspan is 12–18 mm. ^[2] The forewings are ferruginous ochreous, blackish-mixed in disc posteriorly. The base and costal fold in the male are dark brown. There is a ferruginous-brown oblique mark from dorsum near the base. The central fascia and costal patch are deep ferruginous, often separated by a whitish suffusion on the costa, and the patch extended as a fascia to the tornus. The hindwings are blackish-grey, in female lighter anteriorly. The larva is greenish-yellowish, with a head and plate of 2 green or light brown. ^[3]

Single brooded, the moths are on wing from May to August (depending on the location), with an occasional second brood in September and October; has also been recorded in April. ^[4]

The pale yellow eggs are laid in groups on leaves mainly in June and July. ^[5]

Larvae are found from August to April and May and are polyphagous feeding on the foliage of trees, usually amongst spun leaves and developing fruit buds; sometimes causing superficial damage to mature fruits. In late-autumn, larvae spin a hibernaculum attached to a bud or spur and resume feeding in the spring on the buds, flowers and developing fruit. ^[5] The larvae feed on a wide variety of trees and shrubs, including rowan ( Sorbus aucuparia ), apple ( Malus species), pear ( Pyrus species), cherry ( Prunus species), grape ( Vitis species), yew ( Taxus species), juniper ( Juniperus species), Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris ), larch ( Larix species), Viscum , ivy ( Hedera species), Rhododendron species, oak ( Quercus species), holly ( Ilex species), box ( Buxus species), laurel ( Laurus species), mistletoe (Viscum species) and sea buckthorn ( Hippophae ). Also found on some herbaceous plants. ^{[4] [5]} Larvae pupate in June, usually in a folded leaf, or spun-leaves, or in debris on the ground. ^[5]

Distribution

The moth is found in North Africa, Asia Minor, coastal regions of North America and Europe. ^[5] In Europe the moth is found from Sweden to the Iberian Peninsula and Italy, and from Ireland to Slovenia. ^[6]

References

1. "DITULA Stephens, 1829, Nom. Br. Insects 46. Type species: "Tortrix angustiorana Haworth, [1811]". [Tortricinae: Archipini]". Tortricid.net. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
2. Kimber, Ian. "Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana (Haworth, 1811)". UKmoths. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
3. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera, page 528, MacMillan, London pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain . Keys and description
4. Sterling, Phil; Parsons, Mark; Lewington, Richard (2012). Field Guide to the Micromoths of Great Britain and Ireland. Gillingham, Dorset: British Wildlife. p. 284. ISBN   978 0 9564902 1 6.
5. Bradley, J D; Tremewan, W G; Smith, Arthur (1973). British Tortricoid Moths. Cochylidae and Tortricidae: Tortricinae. London: Ray Society. pp. 140–1. ISBN   0 903874 01 6.
6. Ellis, W N. "Ditula angustiorana (Haworth, 1811) red-barred tortrix". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 15 January 2021.