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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Tortricidae 51a0368 – 3693.1   Epiphyas postvittana (Walker, 1863)              Light Brown Apple Moth

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Distribution: Introduced to California from Australia. Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Abies Acacia Acca Actinidia Adiantum Allium Alnus Alphitonia Amaranthus Apium Aquilegia Arbutus Arct..  Host genera: Abies Acacia Acca Actinidia Adiantum Allium Alnus Alphitonia Amaranthus Apium Aquilegia Arbutus Arct...  Host extended: Abies, Acacia, Acca, Actinidia, Adiantum, Allium, Alnus, Alphitonia, Amaranthus, Apium, Aquilegia, A...  Host extended: primarily pest on Malus & pome fruits in USA (Powell & Opler 2009); highly Polyphagous, record on 50.  (Kimberley & Douglas 2025) Description/ Field Marks: See TortAI species page at idtools.org Genitalia: See TortAI species page at idtools.org Similar Species: Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: postvittana (Walker, 1863) (Teras) - MONA 1983: [NEW] basialbana (Walker, 1863) (Teras) consociana (Walker, 1863) (Pandemis) dissipata (Meyrick, 1922) (Tortrix) foedana (Walker, 1863) (Dichelia) oenopa (Meyrick, 1910) (Tortrix) phaeosticha (Turner, 1939) (Tortrix) pyrrhula (Meyrick, 1910) (Tortrix) retractana (Walker, 1863) (Dichelia) reversana (Walker, 1863) (Dichelia) scitulana (Walker, 1863) (Teras) secretana (Walker, 1863) (Teras) stipularis (Meyrick, 1910) (Tortrix) vicariana (Walker, 1869) (Dichelia) Taxonomic Notes: Epiphyas postvittana (Walker, 1863) is now recognized among the North American fauna north of Mexico from California in 2006.

References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced. Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 19.8m, .9m, .10f, .11f; p. 153. Book Review and ordering Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online) Species Page at BugGuide.Net Species Page at Tortricid ID - Identification Technology Program (ITP) Species Page at iNaturalist 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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