Adult Recognition
FWL: 5.0-7.0 mm
Forewings are dark brown to black with a faint ocellus. Hindwings are dark brown with a white patch on the upper basal half. Males have a row of black sex scales on the anal margin of the hindwing and lack a forewing costal fold.
Cydia caryana can be separated from most other Nearctic and Palearctic Cydia by the combination of dark brown to black forewings and white patch on the hindwings.
Larval Morphology
Late instar larvae are approximately 10 mm in length with a pale abdomen. The head and prothoracic shield are yellow brown. An anal comb is absent.
Biology
Cydia caryana completes 4-5 generations in southern States. Adults are present April through September.
Larvae tunnel into husks and nuts of the host plant; overwintering occurs in husks on the ground. Larvae may also inhabit galls formed by Hemiptera and other insects.
Host plants
Members of the Juglandaceae (pecan, hickory, and walnut) are the only recorded hosts. Larvae are occasional pests in commercial pecan orchards.
| Family | Genus/species | Common name |
| Juglandaceae | Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch | pecan |
| Juglandaceae | Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch | shagbark hickory |
| Juglandaceae | Carya Nutt. | hickory |
| Juglandaceae | Juglans nigra L. | black walnut |
Distribution
Cydia caryana occurs in eastern North America and has spread as far west as New Mexico.
References
Gilligan, T. M., D. J. Wright and L. D. Gibson. 2008. Olethreutine moths of the midwestern United States, an identification guide. Ohio Biological Survey, Columbus, Ohio. 334 pp.
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist Supplement 10: 1-338.
Payne, J. A. and E. K. Heaton. 1975. The hickory shuckworm: its biology, effect upon nut quality, and control. Annual Report of the Northern Nut Growers Association. 66: 19-25.
Photo Credits
Fig. 5: Louis Tedders, USDA Agricultural Research Service
Fig. 6: H. C. Ellis, University of Georgia (www.insectimages.org)
