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CAPS Non-target - Adult

Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)

Common names: oblique banded leaf roller, rosaceous leaf roller

Synonyms: gossypiana (Lozotaenia), vicariana (Teras)

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: Larva

Fig. 7: Larva

Fig. 8: Larva

Fig. 8: Larva

Fig. 9: Larva

Fig. 9: Larva

Adult Recognition

FWL: 7.5-11 mm (male); 11.5-14 mm (female)

Forewing pattern is variable, but the majority of individuals have three fasciae that are variably expressed from costa to dorsum. The costal margin is sinuate, giving resting individuals a classic "bell-shaped" appearance. The distal half of the hindwing is white in males and yellowish in females. Males have a forewing costal fold.

Adults are similar to other species of Choristoneura, especially C. fractivittana and C. parallela, although these species are not nearly as common and males do not have a forewing costal fold. Many species of Pandemis have a similar wing pattern but male Pandemis do not have a forewing costal fold.

Larval Morphology

Last instar larvae are green to yellowish green and 25-30 mm long. The head is black to light brown. The prothoracic shield  varies from completely shaded (black or brown), to partially shaded, to having no shading (body color). The thoracic legs are dark brown to black.

Choristoneura rosaceana larvae are variable and can appear similar to larvae of many other tortricid species. This is one of the most common tortricid larvae encountered in North America.

Biology

Choristoneura rosaceana completes two annual generations over the majority of its range; however, only one generation is completed in northern areas and at higher elevations. Adults are present in late June though July and again in late August through September.

Eggs are laid in flat masses on the upper side of leaves. Egg masses may contain 200-900 individual eggs and are covered by the female with a waxy substance. First instar larvae hatch in 5-12 days and crawl to a protected location on the underside of leaves, in the buds, or under the calyx of a fruit. Young larvae may also disperse to other hosts by ballooning in the wind on a silk thread. Later instar larvae construct tubular shelters by webbing leaves. Larvae typically complete six instars, and second or third instars may overwinter in the fall and complete development in late May to mid-June. Pupation occurs in the final feeding shelter and lasts approximately 10-12 days.

Host plants

Larvae of Choristoneura rosaceana are highly polyphagous and feed on the leaves or fruits of a wide variety of plants. Preferred hosts appear to be woody plants and members of the family Rosaceae. The following is a partial host list.

Although this species is not currently considered a serious economic threat in North America, there have been populations of C. rosaceana reported as being resistant to insecticides.

Family Genus/species Common name
Aceraceae Acer negundo L. boxelder
Aceraceae Acer rubrum L. red maple
Aceraceae Acer saccharinum L. silver maple
Aceraceae Acer L. maple
Anacardiaceae Pistacia L. pistache
Anacardiaceae Rhus coriaria L. Sicilian sumac
Asteraceae Ambrosia L. ragweed
Asteraceae Aster L. aster
Asteraceae Helianthus annuus L. common sunflower
Asteraceae Solidago L. goldenrod
Betulaceae Alnus incana (L.) Moench gray alder
Betulaceae Betula alleghaniensis Britton yellow birch
Betulaceae Betula papyrifera Marshall paper birch
Betulaceae Betula populifolia Marsh. gray birch
Betulaceae Betula L. birch
Betulaceae Corylus avellana L. common filbert
Betulaceae Corylus L. hazelnut
Betulaceae Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) K. Koch hophornbeam
Calycanthaceae Calycanthus occidentalis Hook. & Arn. western sweetshrub
Caprifoliaceae Lonicera periclymenum L. European honeysuckle
Caprifoliaceae Lonicera L. honeysuckle
Caprifoliaceae Symphoricarpos oreophilus A. Gray var. utahensis (Rydb.) A. Nelson Utah snowberry
Caprifoliaceae Viburnum lentago L. nannyberry
Caprifoliaceae Viburnum L. viburnum
Caryophyllaceae Dianthus caryophyllus L. carnation
Clusiaceae Hypericum L. St. Johnswort
Cornaceae Cornus florida L. flowering dogwood
Cornaceae Cornus racemosa Lam. gray dogwood
Cornaceae Cornus L. dogwood
Ericaceae Rhododendron L. rhododendron
Ericaceae Vaccinium corymbosum L. highbush blueberry
Ericaceae Vaccinium L. blueberry
Fabaceae Amorpha fruticosa L. desert false indigo
Fabaceae Cercis canadensis L. eastern redbud
Fabaceae Phaseolus vulgaris L. kidney bean
Fabaceae Trifolium pratense L. red clover
Fagaceae Quercus agrifolia Nee California live oak
Fagaceae Quercus alba L. white oak
Fagaceae Quercus macrocarpa Michx. bur oak
Fagaceae Quercus rubra L. red oak
Fagaceae Quercus L. oak
Geraniaceae Geranium L. geranium
Hippocastanaceae Aesculus californica (Spach) Nutt. California buckeye
Oleaceae Fraxinus L. ash
Oleaceae Syringa vulgaris L common lilac
Oleaceae Syringa L. lilac
Pinaceae Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. balsam fir
Pinaceae Picea glauca (Moench) Voss white spruce
Pinaceae Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco Douglas-fir
Pinaceae Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. western hemlock
Rhamnaceae Ceanothus integerrimus Hook. & Arn. deerbrush
Rhamnaceae Rhamnus L. buckthorn
Rosaceae Amelanchier stolonifera Wiegand running serviceberry
Rosaceae Crataegus L. hawthorn
Rosaceae Malus domestica Borkh. apple
Rosaceae Malus pumila Mill. paradise apple
Rosaceae Malus Mill. apple
Rosaceae Prunus avium (L.) L. sweet cherry
Rosaceae Prunus ilicifolia (Nutt. ex Hook. & Arn.) D. Dietr. hollyleaf cherry
Rosaceae Prunus pensylvanica L. f. pin cherry
Rosaceae Prunus persica (L.) Batsch peach
Rosaceae Prunus virginiana L. chokecherry
Rosaceae Prunus L.
Rosaceae Pyrus communis L. common pear
Rosaceae Pyrus L. pear
Rosaceae Rosa L. rose
Rosaceae Rubus flagellaris Willd. northern dewberry
Rosaceae Rubus idaeus L. American red raspberry
Rosaceae Rubus L. blackberry
Rosaceae Spiraea L. meadowsweet
Salicaceae Populus balsamifera L. balsam poplar
Salicaceae Populus L. cottonwood
Salicaceae Populus tremuloides Michx. quaking aspen
Salicaceae Salix lasiolepis Benth. arroyo willow
Salicaceae Salix L. willow
Santalaceae Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt. bastard toadflax
Tiliaceae Tilia americana L. American basswood
Tiliaceae Tilia L. basswood
Typhaceae Typha latifolia L. broadleaf cattail
Ulmaceae Celtis occidentalis L. common hackberry
Ulmaceae Ulmus americana L. American elm
Ulmaceae Ulmus L. elm
Verbenaceae Verbena L. vervain

Distribution

Choristoneura rosaceana is widely distributed throughout the continental United States and southern Canada.

References

Carriere, Y., J. P. Deland and D. A. Roff. 1996. Obliquebanded leafroller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) resistance to insecticides: among-orchard variation and cross-resistance. Journal of Economic Entomology. 89: 577-582.

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.

Chapman, P. J., S. E. Lienk and R. W. Dean. 1968. Bionomics of Choristoneura rosaceana. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 61: 285-290.

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.

Powell, J. A. and P. A. Opler. 2009. Moths of western North America. University of California Press, Berkeley. 369 pp.

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