Adult Recognition
FWL: 8.0-11.0 mm (M); 11.5-12.0 mm (F)
Adults are pale yellow to brown and may be variably mottled with dark brown. Most individuals have a well defined costal spot that is a remnant of the median fascia. Abdominal segments 2-6 have a median dorsal pit and ocelli are absent. Males lack a forewing costal fold.
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 A. emigratella versus a single dorsal pit on segment 2 for Amorbia cuneana.
Larval Morphology
Last instar larvae are yellowish green and may have dark lateral lines. The prothoracic shield and head is tan to brown with dark-brown to black lateral bands.
Late instar Amorbia larvae can be distinguished from most other tortricids by the dark-brown to black lateral bands on the head and prothoracic shield. These characters can be used to separate late instar larvae of A. emigratella and Epiphyas postvittana from Hawaii, as both occur on similar host plants. 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
Eggs are laid in masses of 65-120 eggs on the upper surface of leaves. Females cover the egg mass with a whitish coating. Larvae feed within a shelter constructed of webbed leaves or leaves webbed to fruit; they may also feed within flower heads or buds. Larvae complete 4-5 instars and pupation occurs in the larval shelter. Adults eclose in approximately 10 days.
Host plants
Amorbia emigratella has been recorded from plants in more than 25 families, many of which include economically important crops.
| Family | Genus/species | Common name |
| Apiaceae | Daucus carota L. | Queen Anne's lace |
| Apocynaceae | Nerium oleander L. | oleander |
| Araliaceae | Schefflera actinophylla (Endl.) Harms | octopus tree |
| Asteraceae | Parthenium hysterophorus L. | Santa Maria feverfew |
| Brassicaceae | Brassica oleracea L. | cabbage |
| Cannabaceae | Cannabis sativa L. | marijuana |
| Caricaceae | Carica papaya L. | papaya |
| Convolvulaceae | Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. | sweetpotato |
| Euphorbiaceae | Jatropha gossypifolia L. | bellyache bush |
| Fabaceae | Acacia koaia Hillebr. | koaoha |
| Fabaceae | Arachis hypogaea L. | peanut |
| Fabaceae | Chamaecrista nictitans (L.) Moench | sensitive partridge pea |
| Fabaceae | Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp. | quickstick |
| Fabaceae | Phaseolus L. | bean |
| Fabaceae | Sophora L. | necklacepod |
| Fabaceae | Ulex europaeus L. | common gorse |
| Lauraceae | Persea americana Mill. | avocado |
| Malvaceae | Gossypium hirsutum L. var. hirsutum | upland cotton |
| Malvaceae | Gossypium L. | cotton |
| Myrtaceae | Psidium guajava L. | guava |
| Orchidaceae | [unspecified] | |
| Orchidaceae | Phaius Lour. | nun's-hood orchid |
| Passifloraceae | Passiflora L. | passionflower |
| Poaceae | Zea mays L. | corn |
| Proteaceae | Macadamia F. Muell. | macadamia |
| Rosaceae | Rosa L. | rose |
| Rosaceae | Rubus hawaiensis A. Gray | Hawaii blackberry |
| Rosaceae | Rubus L. | blackberry |
| Rubiaceae | Gardenia Ellis | gardenia |
| Ruscaceae | Dracaena L. | dracaena |
| Rutaceae | Citrus X sinensis (L.) Osbeck (pro sp.) [maxima X reticulata] | sweet orange |
| Sapindaceae | Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq. | Florida hopbush |
| Solanaceae | Solanum lycopersicum L. var. lycopersicum | garden tomato |
| Solanaceae | Solanum melongena L. | eggplant |
| Solanaceae | Solanum tuberosum L. | Irish potato |
| Stericulaceae | Theobroma cacao L. | cacao |
| Thymelaeaceae | Wikstroemia foetida var. oahuensis Gray | |
| Urticaceae | Pipturus Weddell | pipturus |
| Verbenaceae | Lippia alba (Mill.) N. E. Br. ex Britton & P. Wilson | bushy lippia |
Distribution
Amorbia emigratella is distributed across the southern United States and Central America. It has been introduced to all major Hawaiian islands except Lanai.
References
Fullaway, D. T. and N. L. H. Krauss. 1945. 193. Amorbia emigratella Busck, pp. 122-123. In Common Insects of Hawaii. Tongg Publishing Company, Honolulu. 228 pp.
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.
Zimmerman, E. C. 1978. Insects of Hawaii, Volume 9, Microlepidoptera, Part 1. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 881 pp.
