KEYS    About TortAI    Fact Sheets    Glossary    ID Thumbnails    DNA Search    Dissection Guides Archips mortuana << Previous Next >> CAPS Non-target - Adult Archips mortuana (Kearfott) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini) Common names: dusky-back leaf roller Fig. 1: Male Fig. 1: Male Fig. 2: Male Fig. 2: Male Fig. 3: Male genitalia Fig. 3: Male genitalia Fig. 4: Female genitalia Fig. 4: Female genitalia Adult Recognition FWL: 7.0-9.0 mm The male forewing pattern is similar to that of Archips argyrospila, with at least one, and usually two, semi-rectangular pale tan patches on the costa. These costal patches are greatly reduced in the female, with the remaining pattern resembling the male or reduced to a patternless rusty gray. Males have a forewing costal fold. Archips mortuana is part of the Archips argyrospila species complex, and it was once hypothesized to simply be a dark form of A. argyrospila (Powell 1964). Chapman and Lienk (1971) demonstrated that the sex pheromone for A. mortuana is different from A. argyrospila, providing evidence that the two are indeed separate species. Larval Morphology Larvae are 14-22 mm in length. Early to mid-instars are dark green dorsally and ligher green laterally; this color difference is reduced in the last instar. Pinacula are pale and contrast with the dark green dorsal coloration. The head is yellowish brown and may be unmarked or have dark-brown to black mottling. The prothoracic shield is greenish brown with variable degrees of posterior shading. Biology Archips mortuana completes one generation per year. Adults are present in June and July. This species has the same basic life history information as Archips argyrospila. Females lay eggs in masses of approximately 60-80 individual eggs. Eggs overwinter and first instar larvae hatch the following spring. Larvae feed primarily on leaves and pupation occurs within the final larval feeding site. Host plants Chapman and Lienk (1971) consider apple and hawthorn to be the primary larval hosts in the northeastern U.S. Other host plants are listed here. Family Genus/species Common name Apiaceae Cicuta L. water hemlock Betulaceae Alnus Mill. alder Rosaceae Crataegus L. hawthorn Rosaceae Malus Mill. apple Rosaceae Prunus virginiana L. chokecherry Rosaceae Spiraea L. meadowsweet Salicaceae Populus balsamifera L. balsam poplar Salicaceae Populus tremuloides Michx. quaking aspen Salicaceae Salix bebbiana Sarg. Bebb willow Salicaceae Salix L. willow Distribution Archips mortuana is found in the eastern half North America. There are also individuals recorded from Utah and California, but Chapman and Lienk (1971) doubt the accuracy of these records. References Chapman, P. J. and S. E. Lienk. 1971. Tortricid fauna of apple in New York (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae); including an account of apple's occurrence in the state, especially as a naturalized plant. Spec. Publ. Geneva, NY: New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. 122 pp. Freeman, T. N. 1958. The Archipinae of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). The Canadian Entomologist Supplement 7 (Vol. 90): 1-89. Powell, J. A. 1964. Biological and taxonomic studies on tortricine moths, with reference to the species in California. University of California Publications in Entomology. Vol. 32. 317 pp. Tortricids of Agricultural Importance by Todd M. Gilligan and Marc E. Epstein Interactive Keys developed in Lucid 3.5. Last updated August 2014.