KEYS    About TortAI    Fact Sheets    Glossary    ID Thumbnails    DNA Search    Dissection Guides Amorbia cuneana << Previous Next >> CAPS Non-target - Adult Amorbia cuneana (Walsingham) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Sparganothini) Common names: western avocado leafroller Synonyms: adumbrana (Amorbia), essigana (Amorbia), synneurana (Amorbia)  Fig. 1: Male Fig. 1: Male Fig. 2: Male Fig. 2: Male Fig. 3: Female Fig. 3: Female Fig. 4: Female Fig. 4: Female Fig. 5: Male genitalia Fig. 5: Male genitalia Fig. 6: Female genitalia Fig. 6: Female genitalia Fig. 7: Larval damage Fig. 7: Larval damage Fig. 8: Early instar larva Fig. 8: Early instar larva Fig. 9: Late instar larva Fig. 9: Late instar larva Fig. 10: Late instar larva Fig. 10: Late instar larva Adult Recognition FWL: 10.0-14.5 mm (male); 13.5-17.5 mm (female) Male forewing color varies from pale tan to rust to dark gray brown. Many individuals have a dark costal spot that is a remnant of the median fascia or more well-defined transverse markings. Females have a more uniform rust to tan forewing with obscured marking. Males lack a forewing costal fold. A dorsal pit is present on the second abdominal segment and ocelli are absent. Few other North American tortricids are similar in size or appearance to Amorbia, and this is one of the few tortricid genera in which the adults lack ocelli. The two Amorbia species treated here can be separated by the number of dorsal pits on the abdomen: dorsal pits on segments 2-6 for Amorbia emigratella versus a single dorsal pit on segment 2 for A. cuneana. Larval Morphology Last instar larvae are approximately 25mm long. The head and prothoracic shield are tan and marked with dark brown to black lateral bands; these lateral bands can be used to distinguish late instar Amorbia larvae from those of many other tortricids. Early instars lack the distinctive dark bands, and morphological identification of early instar larvae may be difficult or impossible. For more information on Amorbia larvae, please consult the fact sheet and keys on LepIntercept - An identification resource for intercepted Lepidoptera larvae. Biology Amorbia cuneana completes two generations per year in northern California, where adults are present in May through June and again in October. In southern California, A. cuneana is multivoltine and adults have been recorded every month of the year. Larvae feed on leaves, skeletonizing them in early instars and consuming the entire leaf in later instars. Larvae also web leaves to fruit and feed on the skin of fruit in a cluster, sometimes causing economic damage. Amorbia cuneana can be a significant pest of avocado in California. Its putative synonym, A. essigana Busck, was described as an avocado pest in southern California in 1929, and it is possible that avocado-feeding populations may represent this "pheromone race." Host plants Amorbia cuneana feeds on plants in several families although it is usually recognized as a pest of avocado. Family Genus/species Common name Caprifoliaceae Lonicera japonica Thunb. Japanese honeysuckle Ericaceae Arbutus menziesii Pursh Pacific madrone Ericaceae Arctostaphylos glauca Lindl. bigberry manzanita Ericaceae Arctostaphylos insularis Greene ex Parry island manzanita Ericaceae Arctostaphylos patula Greene greenleaf manzanita Ericaceae Arctostaphylos Adans. manzanita Grossulariaceae Ribes sanguineum Pursh redflower currant Lamiaceae Trichostema lanceolatum Benth. vinegarweed Lauraceae Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl camphortree Lauraceae Laurus nobilis L. sweet bay Lauraceae Persea americana Mill. avocado Lauraceae Persea Mill. bay Lauraceae Umbellularia californica (Hook. & Arn.) Nutt. California laurel Pinaceae Abies concolor (Gord. & Glend.) Lindl. ex Hildebr. white fir Pinaceae Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco Douglas-fir Rhamnaceae Ceanothus arboreus Greene feltleaf ceanothus Rhamnaceae Ceanothus leucodermis Greene chaparral whitethorn Rhamnaceae Ceanothus sorediatus Hook. & Arn. jimbrush Rosaceae Heteromeles arbutifolia (Lindl.) M. Roem. var. arbutifolia toyon Rosaceae Lyonothamnus floribundus A. Gray Catalina ironwood Rosaceae Prunus ilicifolia (Nutt. ex Hook. & Arn.) D. Dietr. hollyleaf cherry Rosaceae Prunus ilicifolia (Nutt. ex Hook. & Arn.) D. Dietr. ssp. lyonii (Eastw.) P.H. Raven hollyleaf cherry Rosaceae Pyracantha M. Roem. firethorn Rutaceae Citrus L. citrus Ulmaceae Ulmus americana L. American elm Vitaceae Vitis L. grape Distribution Amorbia cuneana is found along the Pacific Coast from southwestern Canada south to Baja California and east to Arizona and Idaho. References Faber, B. A., J. G. Morse and M. S. Hoddle. 2010. UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines - Avocado. University of California IPM Online. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/selectnewpest.avocado.html. Hoffman, M. P., L. M. McDonough and J. B. Bailey. 1983. Field test of the sex pheromone of Amorbia cuneana (Walsingham) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Environmental Entomology. 12: 1387-1390. Phillips-Rodriguez, E. and J. A. Powell. 2007. Phylogenetic relationships, systematics, and biology of the species of Amorbia Clemens (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Sparganothini). Zootaxa. 1670. 109 pp. Powell, J. A. and P. A. Opler. 2009. Moths of western North America. University of California Press, Berkeley. 369 pp. Photo Credits Figs. 7-9:  University of California Statewide IPM Program (UC IPM Web Site) Tortricids of Agricultural Importance by Todd M. Gilligan and Marc E. Epstein Interactive Keys developed in Lucid 3.5. Last updated August 2014.