KEYS    About TortAI    Fact Sheets    Glossary    ID Thumbnails    DNA Search    Dissection Guides Ctenopseustis obliquana << Previous Next >> Port Interception Target - Larva Ctenopseustis obliquana (Walker) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini) Common names: brown-headed leafroller Synonyms: charactana (Cacoecia), ropeana (Tortrix), spurcatana (Teras), transtrigana (Sciaphila), turbulentana (Sciaphila) 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: Late instar larva Fig. 7: Late instar larva Adult Recognition FWL: 7.5-12.0 mm Adults are brown to browish gray with a variable wing pattern. Most individuals have several dark markings along the costa, including a remnant of the median fascia. Males have a long forewing costal fold that extends to half the length of the wing. Hindwings are mottled in both males and females. The brown-headed leafroller complex in New Zealand contains several species that are not easy to distinguish. Dugdale et al. (2005) recommend using DNA sequence data to separate members of this complex. Langhoff et al. (2009) provides DNA barcode data for distinguishing Ctenopseustis and Planotortrix. Larval Morphology Late instar larvae are approximately 20 mm in length with conspicuous pinacula. The head is dark brown to reddish brown and may be marked with faint red mottling. The prothoracic shield has dark shading on the lateral and posterior margins. Earlier instars have a black head and prothoracic shield. Biology Ctenopseustis obliquana completes 4-6 overlapping generations per year. Adults are most common November-March. Females lay eggs in smooth masses composed of up to 150 individual eggs. Early instar larvae web together shoot tips or roll leaves. Later instars feed on leaves, buds, and fruit of the host plant. Larvae may cause economic damage by webbing leaves to fruit. Pupation occurs in the larval nest. Larval damage is nearly identical to that caused by Epiphyas postvittana and Planotortrix excessana. Host plants The brown-headed leafroller complex is an important horticultural pest in New Zealand. Larvae are highly polyphagous and have been recorded feeding on plants in more than 20 families. Family Genus/species Common name Actinidiaceae Actinidia arguta (Siebold & Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq. tara vine Actinidiaceae Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chev.) C. F. Liang & A. R. Ferguson Asteraceae Aster L. daisy Verbenaceae Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. var. resinifera (G. Forst.) Bakh. gray mangrove Berberidaceae Berberis L. barberry Caprifoliaceae Lonicera L. honeysuckle Cornocarpaceae Corynocarpus laevigata Forst. New Zealand laurel Ebenaceae Diospyros kaki L. f. Japanese persimmon Fabaceae Clianthus puniceus (G. Don) Sol. ex Lindl. Kaka beak Salicaceae Dovyalis caffra Warb. kei apple Escalloniaceae Escallonia Mutis ex L.f. Grossulariaceae Ribes L. currant Grossulariaceae Ribes nigrum L. European black currant Myrtaceae Acca sellowiana (O. Berg.) Burret feijoa Myrtaceae Syzygium smithii (Poir.) Nied. lilly pilly Primulaceae Cyclamen L. cyclamen Rosaceae Malus domestica Borkh. apple Rosaceae Malus Mill. apple Rosaceae Prunus armeniaca L. apricot Rosaceae Prunus persica (L.) Batsch peach Rosaceae Prunus L. cherry Rosaceae Prunus L. plum Rosaceae Rosa L. rose Rosaceae Rubus L. cranberry Rubiaceae Coprosma rotundifolia A. Cunn. Rutaceae Citrus L. citrus Scrophulariaceae Veronica L. speedwell Theaceae Camellia japonica L. Vitaceae Vitis vinifera L. wine grape Distribution Ctenopseustis obliquana is a native of New Zealand. Reports of it being introduced into Hawaii could not be confirmed. References Dugdale, J. S., D. Gleeson, L. H. Clunie and P. W. Holder. 2005. A diagnostic guide to Tortricidae encountered in field surveys and quarantine inspections in New Zealand: Morphological and molecular characters. National Plant Pest Reference Laboratory. 161 pp. Kay, M. K. 1979. Ctenopseustis obliquana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Brownheaded leafroller. New Zealand Forest Service, Forest and Timber Insects in New Zealand. No. 40. Langhoff, P., A. Authier, T. R. Buckley, J. S. Dugdale, A. Rodrigo and R. D. Newcomb. 2009. DNA barcoding of the endemic New Zealand leafroller moth genera, Ctenopseustis and Planotortrix. Molecular Ecology Resources. 9: 691-698. Stevens, P., K. Froud and L. Jamieson. 2002. Effects of adult feeding on longevity and fecundity of Ctenopseustis obliquana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science. 30: 229-234. Wearing C. H., W. P. Thomas, J. W. Dugdale and W. Danthanarayana. 1991. Tortricid pests of pome and stonefruits, Australian and New Zealand species., pp. 453-472.  In L. P. S. van der Geest and H. H. Evenhius [eds.], Tortricid Pests: Their Biology, Natural Enemies, and Control. World Crop Pests, Vol. 5. Elsevier, Amsterdam. Photo Credits Fig. 7: HortResearch (http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/) Tortricids of Agricultural Importance by Todd M. Gilligan and Marc E. Epstein Interactive Keys developed in Lucid 3.5. Last updated August 2014.