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CAPS Secondary Target - Adult
Port Interception Target - Larva

Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Hubner) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)

Common names: carnation tortrix, European carnation moth

Synonyms: ambustana (Tortrix), hermineana (Tortrix), insolatana (Tortrix), perochreana (Tortrix)

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: Female

Fig. 5: Female

Fig. 6: Male genitalia

Fig. 6: Male genitalia

Fig. 7: Female genitalia

Fig. 7: Female genitalia

Fig. 8: Resting adult

Fig. 8: Resting adult

Fig. 9: Larva

Fig. 9: Larva

Fig. 10: Prothoracic shield markings

Fig. 10: Prothoracic shield markings

Adult Recognition

FWL: 6.5-8.5 mm (male); 7.5-11.5 mm (female)

Forewings are orangish brown to dark brown. A dark-brown median fascia is usually expressed in males while females are lighter with dark reticulations. The hindwings in both sexes are a distinctive bright orange and black, although many females lack black scaling on the hindwings. Males lack a forewing costal fold.

Males fly during the day or early evening and have been observed "swarming" around sources of the female pheromone, sometimes in large numbers. Males have been captured in pheromone traps using pheromones from several other species, including Clepsis spectrana, Pandemis heparana, and Adoxophyes orana. Individuals of Cacoecimorpha pronubana can be separated from most other tortricids by their bright orange and black hindwings.

Larval Morphology

Late instar larvae are green to dark green with conspicuous light green pinacula, white seate, and dark brown to black spiracles. The head is green to yellowish brown with a dark brown to black posterolateral dash and variable dark brown to black markings on the posterior margin. The prothoracic shield is brownish green to yellowish brown, usually with distinctive dark brown to black markings on the posterolateral corners and other small markings near the mid-dorsal line. Thoracic legs are brown. The anal shield is variably mottled with brown or black, and an anal comb is present with 6 teeth in most individuals.

Biology

Number of generations per year varies from two generations in northern regions to 4-6 continuously overlapping generations in southern regions, where adults may be present year round. In Washington, adults are present in May through the end of September.

Females deposit eggs in small groups. First instar larvae mine leaves or buds, while later instars roll or web leaves and terminals. Larvae may cause damage to fruit by webbing leaves to fruit or feeding between adjacent fruits. In areas where there are not continuous generations, overwintering occurs in the larval stage. 

Host plants

Cacoecimorpha pronubana larvae are highly polyphagous and have been recorded from more than 160 species of plants in 42 families. As its common name would suggest, this species is most often encountered as a pest of flowers in greenhouses, although the following partial host list includes many other economically important crops.

Family Genus/species Common name
Apiaceae Aegopodium podagraria L. bishop's goutweed
Apocynaceae Neruim L. oleander
Apocynaceae Vinca L. periwinkle
Asteraceae Aster L. aster
Asteraceae Hieracium L. hawkweed
Brassicaceae Brassica oleracea L. cabbage
Brassicaceae Brassica L. mustard
Caryophyllaceae Dianthus L. pink
Celastraceae Euonymus japonicus Thunb. Japanese spindletree
Celastraceae Euonymus L. spindletree
Cupressaceae Chamaecyparis pistifera (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl.
Cupressaceae Cupressocyparis leylandii (Dallim. & A.B. Jacks.) Dallim.
Cupressaceae Juniperus scopulorum Sarg. Rocky Mountain juniper
Elaeagnaceae Hippophae rhamnoides L. seaberry
Ericaceae Arbutus L. madrone
Ericaceae Rhododendron L. rhododendron
Ericaceae Vaccinium corymbosum L. highbush blueberry
Ericaceae Vaccinium L. blueberry
Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia amygdaloides L. wood spurge
Fabaceae Robinia pseudoacacia L. black locust
Fabaceae Trifolium L. clover
Fabaceae Vicia faba L. horsebean
Geraniaceae Pelargonium L'Her. ex Aiton geranium
Lauraceae Laurus nobilis L. sweet bay
Lauraceae Persea americana Mill. avocado
Liliaceae Narcissus L. daffodil
Oleaceae Ligustrum L. privet
Oleaceae Olea europaea L. olive
Onagraceae Fuchsia L. fuchsia
Pinaceae Pinus halepensis Mill. aleppo pine
Polygonaceae Rumex crispus L. curly dock
Punicaceae Punica granatum L. pomegranate
Rosaceae Fragaria L. strawberry
Rosaceae Malus Mill. apple
Rosaceae Prunus L. plum
Rosaceae Prunus L. cherry
Rosaceae Prunus persica (L.) Batsch peach
Rosaceae Pyrus L. pear
Rosaceae Rosa L. rose
Rutaceae Citrus reticulata Blanco tangerine
Rutaceae Citrus L. citrus
Solanaceae Capsicum L. pepper
Solanaceae Solanum lycopersicum L. var. lycopersicum garden tomato
Tamaricaceae Tamarix L. tamarisk
Thymelaeceae Daphne L. daphne
Vitaceae Vitis L. grape

Distribution

Cacoecimorpha pronubana is native to Northern Africa and it is widely distributed across Western Europe to Asia Minor. It has been introduced into South Africa and North America, where it is present in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington). In early 2011 this species was discovered in California feeding on Daphne odora (winter daphne). In 2013 an infestation of C. pronubana on Daphne was discovered at the Denver Zoo in Denver, Colorado.

References

Bradley, J. D., W. G. Tremewan and A. Smith. 1973. British Tortricoid Moths - Cochylidae and Tortricidae: Tortricinae. The Ray Society, London, England.

Razowski, J. 2002. Tortricidae of Europe, Vol. 1, Tortricinae and Chlidanotinae. Frantisek Slamka, Slovakia. 247 pp.

Van de Vrie, M. 1991. Tortricids in ornamental crops in greenhouses, pp. 515-539. In: L. P. S. van der Geest, H. H. Evenhuis (eds.), Tortricid pests, their biology, natural enemies and control. Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Wyoski, M. and Y. Izhar. 1976. The carnation leaf-roller Cacoecimorpha (Cacoecia) pronubana Huebner (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) on avocado trees in Israel. California Avocado Society Yearbook. 60: 92-95.

Photo Credits

Fig. 8: H. Dumas

Tortricids of Agricultural Importance by Todd M. Gilligan and Marc E. Epstein
Interactive Keys developed in Lucid 3.5. Last updated August 2014.