990685n –
19685 Thaumatotibia leucotreta
(Meyrick, 1913)
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| Distribution: |
A single specimen was taken in Ventura County, California in July, 2008. Extensive trapping efforts over three life cycles turned up no new specimens. It appears that the species has not become established in North America although it has also been encountered during quarentine inspections at ports of entry. |
Seasonality
and Size: |
Forewing length is 7.0-8.0mm in males and 9.0-10.0mm in females.
Many generations per year, up to ten generations are possible in South Africa.. |
Larva and
Host Plants: |
Larvae are polyphagous and have been recorded on more than 50 species of plants representing over 30 families. Larvae can be serious pests of citrus, cotton, and avocado and have also been reported as causing major damage to corn. Some more hosts of importance include Saccharum officinarum (sugarcane), Gossypium spp. (cotton), Quercus spp. (oak), Olea europaea (olive), Sorghum spp. (sorghum), Prunus persica (peach), Prunus (plum), Coffea spp. (coffee), Solanum melongena (eggplant), Capsicum annuum (Pepper, including bell and chili peppers)
Larvae of T. leucotreta can be identified based on a combination of characters depending on what host the larvae was intercepted on. T. leucotreta have an enlarged L pinaculum on T1 which extends beyond the spiracle as well as an anal comb which separates it from similar looking species in the genus Cryptophlebia |
Description/
Field Marks: |
Sexually dimorphic in size, with females being larger. Both males and females exhibit the following forewing pattern elements: a small white dot in the center of the wings (at the end of the discal cell); a raised patch of large spatulate-shaped scales, typically rust or orange colored, below the white dot in the center of the wings. Males with a U-shaped pocket along the bottom edge of the hindwing surrounded by silvery scales. Black sex-scales are concealed within the pocket. Furthermore, males have tufts of black sex-scales on the hind tibia as well as an enlargement on the inner apical spur on the hind tibia. Males do not have a forewing costal fold. |
| Similar Species: |
- Males can easily be distinguished from other North American tortricids by the presence of black elongated sex scales on the hing legs, and the presence of a pocket of scales on the hindwing. Females can be distinguished from similar looking species by the combination a genitalia characters:
Large, rounded corpus bursae with two upturned thorn-like signa
Narrow, short ductus bursae
Semicircular sterigma - Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
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| Synonymy: |
leucotreta (Meyrick, 1913) (Argyroploce) EXCL. |
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| References |
- (1) Gilligan, T.M., and Epstein, M.E. 2012. Tortricids of Agricultural Importance website
- (3) Gilligan, T. M., M. E. Epstein & K. M. Hoffman, 2011. Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 113(4): 426-435. Discovery of False Coddling Moth in California.
- (3) Gilligan, T.M. 2014. Key to larval Tortricidae intercepted, or potentially encountered, at U.S. ports of entry. Modified from Brown, 2011. [pdf]
- (4) Species Page at BOLD Barcoding Project - website.
- (5) Trematerraa, P., 2023. Thaumatotibia leucotreta and Epiphyas postvittana found in Italy, invasive pests in Europe (Lepidoptera Tortricidae). Bulletin of Insectology, 76(2): 203-207.
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Pest & Diseases Image Library and J. H. Hofmeyr at Bugwood.org
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 – © Christi Jaeger
 – © Christi Jaeger, MEM
© Pest & Diseases Image Library and J. H. Hofmeyr at Bugwood.org
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