KEYS    About TortAI    Fact Sheets    Glossary    ID Thumbnails    DNA Search    Dissection Guides Argyrotaenia franciscana << Previous Next >> CAPS Non-target - Adult Argyrotaenia franciscana (Walsingham) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini) Common names: orange tortrix, apple skinworm Synonyms: citrana (Tortrix), kearfotti (Argyrotaenia) Argyrotaenia franciscana and A. citrana are considered separate species in much of the economic literature. Landry et al. (1999) concluded that they form a single species based on molecular data. Subspecies: A. franciscana insulana (Anacapa Island, California) Fig. 1: Male Fig. 1: Male Fig. 2: Male Fig. 2: Male Fig. 3: Male Fig. 3: Male Fig. 4: Female Fig. 4: Female Fig. 5: Male genitalia Fig. 5: Male genitalia Fig. 6: Female genitalia Fig. 6: Female genitalia Fig. 7: Resting adults Fig. 7: Resting adults Fig. 8: Larva Fig. 8: Larva Fig. 9: Larva Fig. 9: Larva Fig. 10: Larva (dorsal) Fig. 10: Larva (dorsal) Adult Recognition FWL: 6.0-10.0 mm In California, A. franciscana has two common phenotypes that were previously separated into two species. The typical A. citrana has broad, orange to orange-brown forewings with a well defined dark median fascia and outer spot on the costa, and the hindwings are white to gray. The typical A. franciscana has narrow, gray to brownish-gray forewings with a dark, variably defined median fascia and an outer spot on the costa, and the hindwings are primarily gray. Wing pattern and size can be quite variable although most individuals show remnants of a median fascia and outer costal spot. Males lack a forewing costal fold. Choristoneura rosaceana males have been captured in A. franciscana pheremone traps; however, adults of these two species are unlikely to be confused. Larval Morphology The larval head and prothoracic shield are light brown and unmarked. Abdomen color vaires with host plant, but larvae are usually pale to dark green. Larval damage by Pandemis pyrusana may resemble that of A. franciscana and the larvae are similar in appearance. Argyrotaenia franciscana larvae are similar to those of many other Archipini that have a brown, unmarked head and prothoracic shield. Biology Argyrotaenia franciscana is bivoltine or multivoltine, depending on location. In warmer inland areas of California, larvae aestivate during the summer and only two generations are completed. In cooler coastal areas there may be up to 5 continuous overlapping generations with adults present year-round. Eggs are laid on smooth surfaces of leaves, fruits, and twigs in masses that contain approximately 200 individual eggs. Early instar larvae skeletonize leaves under a silk shelter; later instars roll, fold, or web leaves together or to fruits. Larvae complete 5-7 instars in a period of 20-30 days. Larvae or pupae overwinter in dead leaves, in mummified fruits, under buds, or on weedy herbaceous plants in the same vicinity as the host. Pupation occurs in the final larval shelter. Larvae can cause economic damage by directly feeding on developing fruit in citrus, apple, and grape. Larvae may also feed on stems, causing fruit to drop. Host plants Argyrotaenia franciscana has been described as one of the most polyphagous tortricid species in North America.  Its host list includes plants in more than 40 families, many of which are important crops. Family Genus/species Common name Anacardiaceae Schinus molle L. Peruvian peppertree Aquifoliaceae Ilex opaca Aiton American holly Araliaceae Hedera helix L. English ivy Asteraceae Achillea millefolium L. common yarrow Asteraceae Artemisia californica Less. coastal sagebrush Asteraceae Artemisia douglasiana Besser Douglas' sagewort Asteraceae Baccharis pilularis DC. coyotebrush Asteraceae Baccharis L. baccharis Asteraceae Cirsium occidentale (Nutt.) Jeps. cobwebby thistle Asteraceae Coreopsis gigantea (Kellogg) H. M. Hall giant coreopsis Asteraceae Coreopsis L. tickseed Asteraceae Corethrogyne DC. sandaster Asteraceae Encelia californica Nutt. California brittlebush Asteraceae Erigeron glaucus Ker Gawl. seaside fleabane Asteraceae Eriophyllum staechadifolium Lag. Asteraceae Gnaphalium L. cudweed Asteraceae Grindelia camporum Greene Great Valley gumweed Asteraceae Grindelia hirsutula Hook. & Arn. hairy gumweed Asteraceae Grindelia Willd. gumweed Asteraceae Isocoma veneta (Kunth) Greene goldenbush Asteraceae Lessingia Cham. lessingia Asteraceae Pericallis hybrida B. Nord. common ragwort Asteraceae Pseudognaphalium biolettii Anderb. two-color rabbit-tobacco Asteraceae Pseudognaphalium californicum (DC.) Anderb. ladies' tobacco Asteraceae Senecio jacobaea L. stinking willie Asteraceae Solidago simplex Kunth Mt. Albert goldenrod Asteraceae Solidago L. goldenrod Begoniaceae Begonia L. begonia Berberidaceae Mahonia pinnata (Lag.) Fedde wavyleaf barberry Berberidaceae Mahonia Nutt. barberry Buddlejaceae Buddleja L. butterflybush Caprifoliaceae Lonicera involucrata (Richardson) Banks ex Spreng. twinberry honeysuckle Caprifoliaceae Sambucus nigra L. ssp. cerulea (Raf.) R. Bolli blue elderberry Caprifoliaceae Symphoricarpos albus (L.) S. F. Blake common snowberry Caryophyllaceae Dianthus caryophyllus L. carnation Caryopyllaceae Spergularia macrotheca (Hornem.) Heynh. sticky sandspurry Chenopodiaceae Chenopodium L. goosefoot Commelinaceae Tradescantia zebrina hort. ex Bosse inchplant Convolvulaceae Calystegia macrostegia (Greene) Brummitt island false bindweed Convolvulaceae Convolvulus L. bindweed Crassulaceae Dudleya farinosa (Lindl.) Britt. & Rose powdery liveforever Crassulaceae Sedum spathulifolium Hook. broadleaf stonecrop Cupressaceae Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (A. Murray) Parl. Port Orford cedar Cupressaceae Cupressus macrocarpa Hartw. ex Gord. Monterey cypress Cupressaceae Sequoia sempervirens (Lamb. ex D. Don) Endl. redwood Cupressaceae Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don western redcedar Dennstaedtiaceae Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn western brackenfern Dryopteridaceae Dryopteris arguta (Kaulf.) Watt coastal woodfern Ericaceae Arbutus menziesii Pursh Pacific madrone Ericaceae Arbutus L. madrone Ericaceae Arctostaphylos imbricata Eastw. San Bruno Mountain manzanita Ericaceae Vaccinium ovatum Pursh California huckleberry Fabaceae Acacia Mill. acacia Fabaceae Astragalus miguelensis Greene San Miguel milkvetch Fabaceae Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link Scotch broom Fabaceae Lotus scoparius (Nutt.) Ottley common deerweed Fabaceae Lotus L. trefoil Fabaceae Lupinus arboreus Sims yellow bush lupine Fabaceae Lupinus chamissonis Eschsch. Chamisso bush lupine Fabaceae Lupinus L. lupine Fagaceae Quercus agrifolia Nee California live oak Fagaceae Quercus douglasii Hook. & Arn. blue oak Fagaceae Quercus dumosa Nutt. coastal sage scrub oak Fagaceae Quercus L. oak Geraniaceae Erodium L'Her. ex Aiton stork's bill Geraniaceae Geranium L. geranium Geraniaceae Pelargonium L'Her. ex Aiton geranium Grossulariaceae Ribes amarum McClatchie bitter gooseberry Grossulariaceae Ribes malvaceum Sm. chaparral currant Grossulariaceae Ribes menziesii Pursh canyon gooseberry Grossulariaceae Ribes sanguineum Pursh redflower currant Grossulariaceae Ribes L. currant Hippocastanaceae Aesculus californica (Spach) Nutt. California buckeye Hydrophyllaceae Eriodictyon californicum (Hook. & Arn.) Torr. California yerba santa Hydrophyllaceae Phacelia malvifolia Cham. stinging phacelia Juglandaceae Juglans regia L. English walnut Juglandaceae Juglans L. walnut Lamiaceae Lavandula angustifolia Mill. English lavender Lamiaceae Monardella villosa Benth. coyote mint Lamiaceae Monardella Benth. monardella Lamiaceae Stachys bullata Benth. California hedgenettle Lamiaceae Stachys L. hedgenettle Lauraceae Persea americana Mill. avocado Lauraceae Umbellularia californica (Hook. & Arn.) Nutt. California laurel Liliaceae Asparagus L. asparagus Liliaceae Calochortus catalinae S. Watson Santa Catalina mariposa lily Liliaceae Calochortus Pursh mariposa lily Malvaceae Sphaeralcea ambigua A. Gray desert globemallow Myricaceae Morella californica (Cham.) Wilbur California wax myrtle Myrtaceae Eucalyptus L'Her. gum Onagraceae Epilobium canum (Greene) P.H. Raven ssp. Canum hummingbird trumpet Onagraceae Epilobium L. willowherb Onagraceae Oenothera L. evening primrose Pinaceae Abies Mill. fir Pinaceae Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G. Don f. Deodar cedar Pinaceae Picea A. Dietr. spruce Pinaceae Picea pungens Engelm. blue spruce Pinaceae Pinus radiata D. Don Monterey pine Pinaceae Pinus L. pine Pinaceae Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco Douglas-fir Pinaceae Pseudostuga Carriere Douglas-fir Pinaceae Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carriere eastern hemlock Pinaceae Tsuga Carriere hemlock Poaceae Coix lacryma-jobi L. Job's tears Polygonaceae Eriogonum latifolium Sm. seaside buckwheat Polygonaceae Eriogonum parvifolium Sm. seacliff buckwheat Proteaceae Macadamia F. Muell. macadamia Ranunculaceae Aquilegia L. columbine Rhamnaceae Ceanothus arboreus Greene feltleaf ceanothus Rhamnaceae Ceanothus oliganthus Nutt. hairy ceanothus Rhamnaceae Ceanothus sorediatus Hook. & Arn. jimbrush Rhamnaceae Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Eschsch. blueblossom Rhamnaceae Ceanothus L. ceanothus Rhamnaceae Frangula californica (Eschsch.) A. Gray California buckthorn Rosaceae Adenostoma Hook. & Arn. chamise Rosaceae Crataegus L. hawthorn Rosaceae Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. loquat Rosaceae Fragaria vesca L. woodland strawberry Rosaceae Fragaria vesca L. ssp. californica (Cham. & Schltdl.) Staudt California strawberry Rosaceae Heteromeles arbutifolia (Lindl.) M. Roem. toyon Rosaceae Heteromeles arbutifolia (Lindl.) M. Roem. var. arbutifolia toyon Rosaceae Horkelia californica Cham. & Schltdl. California horkelia Rosaceae Lyonothamnus floribundus A. Gray ssp. aspleniifolius (Greene) P. H. Raven fern-leaf Catalina ironwood Rosaceae Malus pumila Mill. paradise apple Rosaceae Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill. European crab apple Rosaceae Malus Mill. apple Rosaceae Potentilla L. cinquefoil Rosaceae Prunus armeniaca L. apricot Rosaceae Prunus avium (L.) L. sweet cherry Rosaceae Prunus domestica L. European plum Rosaceae Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb sweet almond Rosaceae Prunus persica (L.) Batsch peach Rosaceae Prunus L. Rosaceae Pyracantha M. Roem. firethorn Rosaceae Rosa L. rose Rosaceae Rubus parviflorus Nutt. thimbleberry Rosaceae Rubus ursinus Cham. & Schltdl. California blackberry Rosaceae Rubus vitifolius Cham. & Schltdl. Pacific dewberry Rosaceae Rubus L. cranberry Rutaceae Citrus L. citrus Salicaceae Salix lasiolepis Benth. arroyo willow Salicaceae Salix L. willow Sapindaceae Filicium decipiens Thwaites Scrophulariaceae Castilleja affinis Hook. & Arn. coast Indian paintbrush Scrophulariaceae Castilleja exserta (A. Heller) T.I. Chuang & Heckard ssp. exserta exserted Indian paintbrush Scrophulariaceae Castilleja Mutis ex L. f. Indian paintbrush Scrophulariaceae Diplacus aurantiacus (W. Curtis) Jeps. ssp. aurantiacus orange bush monkeyflower Scrophulariaceae Scrophularia californica Cham. & Schltdl. California figwort Scrophulariaceae Scrophularia L. figwort Scrophulariaceae Veronica L. speedwell Solanaceae Solanum douglasii Dunal greenspot nightshade Solanaceae Solanum pseudocapsicum L. Jerusalem cherry Thymelaeaceae Dirca occidentalis A. Gray western leatherwood Urticaceae Urtica L. nettle Verbenaceae Lantana L. lantana Vitaceae Vitis vinifera L. wine grape Distribution Argyrotaenia franciscana is found in California, Oregon, and Washington, primarily in the cooler coastal areas and river valleys. References Crop Protection Compendium. 2007 Edition. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, 2007. Freeman, T. N. 1944. A review of the North American species of the genus Argyrotaenia Stephens. Sci. Agr. (Ottawa). 25: 81-94. Landry, B., J. A. Powell and F. A. H. Sperling. 1999. Systematics of the Argyrotaenia franciscana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) species group: evidence from mitochondrial DNA. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 92: 40-46.   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. 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.