Adult Recognition
FWL: 7.0-9.5 mm (male); 8.0-12.5 mm (female)
Forewing color is dull brown with dark-brown to reddish-brown markings. Pattern expression can vary between individuals, but the median fascia is complete from costa to dorsum. Hindwings are brownish gray. Males have a forewing costal fold.
Some individuals resemble Archips xylosteana, but the two species can be separated by the broader costal fold and continuous median fasica (from costa to dorsum) in A. fuscocupreanus.
Other Archips species, including Archips crataegana, Archips grisea, and forms of Archips podana and Archips rosana, can appear similar to A. fuscocupreanus. A genitalic dissection can be used to confirm identity.
Larval Morphology
Late instar larvae are approximately 22 mm in length. The abdomen is pale green to grayish green with dark dorsal and lateral lines and conspicuous pale pinacula. The head is orange or brownish orange. The prothoracic shield is brownish orange with black posterolateral margins. The thoracic legs and thoracic pinacula are black.
Biology
Archips fuscocupreanus completes one generation per year, with adults present in mid-June through mid-July in the northeastern U.S.
Females lay black egg masses on the trunks and limbs of trees. The eggs overwinter, and first instar larvae hatch the following spring. Early instars feed on young leaves. Later instars construct a shelter by webbing together leaves and consume leaves, flowers, and occasionally fruit. Pupation occurs in webbed leaves.
Host plants
Larvae of Archips fuscocupreanus are highly polyphagous and have been recorded feeding on plants in more than 23 families. Many larval hosts are in the Rosaceae, and A. fuscocupreanus is an important pest of apple in East Asia. A partial host list is presented below; Maier (2003) provides a list of other minor hosts found in the northeastern U.S.
| Family | Genus/species | Common name |
| Aceraceae | Acer L. | maple |
| Aquifoliaceae | Ilex verticillata (L.) Gray | common winterberry |
| Asteraceae | Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. | eastern daisy |
| Betulaceae | Alnus Mill. | alder |
| Betulaceae | Betula platyphylla Sukaczev | Asian white birch |
| Betulaceae | Corylus L. | hazelnut |
| Celastraceae | Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. | Oriental bittersweet |
| Cornaceae | Cornus L. | dogwood |
| Ebenaceae | Diospyros kaki L. f. | Japanese persimmon |
| Elaeagnaceae | Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. | autumn olive |
| Ericaceae | Rhododendron L. | rhododendron |
| Euphorbiaceae | Ricinus communis L. | castorbean |
| Fabaceae | Glycine max (L.) Merr. | soybean |
| Fabaceae | Phaseolus L. | bean |
| Fagaceae | Castanea crenata Siebold & Zucc. | Japanese chestnut |
| Fagaceae | Castanea Mill. | chestnut |
| Fagaceae | Quercus acutissima Carruth. | sawtooth oak |
| Fagaceae | Quercus glauca Thunb. | ring-cup oak |
| Fagaceae | Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb. | mongolian oak |
| Fagaceae | Quercus serrata Thunb. | bao li |
| Fagaceae | Quercus variabilis Blume | Chinese cork oak |
| Hydrangeaceae | Deutzia Thunb. | pride-of-Rochester |
| Juglandaceae | Juglans L. | walnut |
| Moraceae | Morus alba L. | white mulberry |
| Moraceae | Morus bombycis Koidz. | |
| Pinaceae | Larix Mill. | larch |
| Pinaceae | Picea A. Dietr. | spruce |
| Rhamnaceae | Rhamnus L. | buckthorn |
| Rosaceae | Amelanchier canadensis (L.) Medik. | Canadian serviceberry |
| Rosaceae | Cydonia oblonga Mill. | quince |
| Rosaceae | Fragaria L. | strawberry |
| Rosaceae | Malus baccata (L.) Borkh. | Siberian crab apple |
| Rosaceae | Malus pumila Mill. | paradise apple |
| Rosaceae | Malus Mill. | apple |
| Rosaceae | Prunus armeniaca L. | apricot |
| Rosaceae | Prunus avium (L.) L. | sweet cherry |
| Rosaceae | Prunus laurocerasus L. | cherry laurel |
| Rosaceae | Prunus mume Siebold & Zucc. | Japanese apricot |
| Rosaceae | Prunus persica (L.) Batsch | peach |
| Rosaceae | Prunus salicina Lindl. | Japanese plum |
| Rosaceae | Prunus sargentii Rehder | |
| Rosaceae | Prunus serotina Ehrh. | black cherry |
| Rosaceae | Prunus X yedoensis Matsum. (pro sp.) [subhirtella X speciosa] | |
| Rosaceae | Pyrus pyrifolia (Burm. f.) Nakai | Chinese pear |
| Rosaceae | Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim. | |
| Rosaceae | Pyrus L. | pear |
| Rosaceae | Rosa multiflora Thunb. | multiflora rose |
| Rosaceae | Rosa rugosa Thunb. | rugosa rose |
| Rosaceae | Rubus L. | blackberry |
| Rosaceae | Sorbus L. | mountain ash |
| Salicaceae | Salix L. | willow |
| Ulmaceae | Ulmus L. | elm |
Distribution
A native of East Asia, Archips fuscocupreanus has been introduced to the northeastern United States (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island) and Pacific Northwest (Washington).
References
Maier, C. T. 2003. Distribution, hosts, abundance, and seasonal flight activity of the exotic leafroller, Archips fuscocupreanus Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in the northeastern United States. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 96: 660-666.
Maier, C. T. and V. C. Mastro. 1998. Discovery, abundance, and distribution of the exotic apple tortrix, Archips fuscocupreanus Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in the northeastern United States. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 100: 545-552.
Yasuda, T. 1975. The Tortricinae and Sparganothinae of Japan (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Part II. Bulletin of the University of Osaka Prefecture, Series B. 27: 79-251.
