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Port Interception Target - Larva

Gymnandrosoma aurantianum Lima (Tortricidae: Olethreutinae: Grapholitini)

Synonyms: cnemoptila (Acharneodes), pithecolobiae (Gymnandrosoma), sideropetra (Argyroploce), sideroptera (Gymnandrosoma), torticornis (Argyroploce)

Fig. 1: Male

Fig. 1: Male

Fig. 2: Male

Fig. 2: Male

Fig. 3: Female

Fig. 3: Female

Fig. 4: Male genitalia

Fig. 4: Male genitalia

Fig. 5: Female genitalia

Fig. 5: Female genitalia

Adult Recognition

FWL: 6.0-10.5 mm

Adults are brown with indistinct reddish-brown and black markings. A conspicuous white dot is present on the distal one-third of the forewing in most individuals. Male genitalia are characterized by a dense row of ca. 130 deciduous cornuti in the vesica. Female genitalia are characterized by a cestum in the ductus bursae that is closer to the ostium than the ductus seminalis. The male antenna is flattened and notched at the base.

Males can be separated from other species of Gymnandrosoma by the flattened, notchlike basal portion of the antenna and large hairpencil on the hind tibia. Females may need to be dissected to confirm identity.

Larval Morphology

Late instar larvae are approximately 16-19 mm in length. Abdominal pinacula are large and well defined. The head is pale yellow to pale orange and the prothoracic shield is pale yellow, usually without darker mottling. Other larval characters include: distance between V setae on A9 1.5 times the distance between V setae on A8; SV pinacula on A9 unisetose; and 40-50 crochets on the abdominal prolegs.

Larvae are similar to other species in the Cryptophlebia-Ecdytolopha group, with an enlarged L-pinaculum on the prothorax that extends beneath (and usually beyond) the spiracle. Larvae of Gymnandrosoma can be separated from those of Ecdytolopha by the distance between the V setae on A9: approximately the same as the distance between Vs on A8 in Ecdytolopha and 1.2-2.0 times the distance between Vs on A8 in Gymnandrosoma.

Gymnandrosoma larvae (including G. aurantianum) are intercepted frequently on a variety of imports from Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. As most species were placed in Ecdytolopha prior to Adamski and Brown's revison (2001), interception records for Ecdytolopha could refer to species in either genus.

Biology

Gymnandrosoma aurantianum has a relatively short life cycle (36 days from egg to adult), allowing it to complete up to 10 generations per year if the appropriate host plants are available. Adults may be present year-round.

Females lay eggs on mature fruit. Larvae tunnel into fruit and consume the seeds, or they may occasionally feed on leaves and stems. Pupation occurs in the soil. Larval damage to fruit may lead to secondary infection by fungus and bacteria.

Host plants

Larvae of Gymnandrosoma aurantianum can be pests on cultivated macadamia, citrus, and other tropical fruits.

Family Genus/species Common name
Annonaceae Annona cherimola L. X squamosa L.
Euphorbiaceae Plukenetia volubilis L.
Fabaceae Cojoba arborea (L.) Britton & Rose
Fabaceae Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth. monkeypod
Myrtaceae Psidium guajava L. guava
Oxalidaceae Averrhoa carambola L. carambola
Proteaceae Macadamia integrifolia Maiden & Betche macadamia nut
Punicaceae Punica granatum L. pomegranate
Rosaceae Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. loquat
Rosaceae Prunus persica (L.) Batsch peach
Rutaceae Citrus L. citrus
Sapindaceae Cupania vernalis A. St.-Hil.
Sapindaceae Litchi chinensis Sonn. lychee
Sapindaceae Sapindus saponaria L. wingleaf soapberry
Stericulaceae Theobroma cacao L. cacao

Distribution

Gymnandrosoma aurantianum is found in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

References

Adamski, D. and J. W. Brown. 2001. Systematic revision of the Ecdytolopha group of genera (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Grapholitini) in the New World. Entomologica Scandinavica Supplement 58. 86 pp.

Blanco-Metzler, H., A. D. Watt and D. Cosens. 2009. The effect of parasitism on the population dynamics of the macadamia nutborer Gymnandrosoma aurantianum (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Revista de Biologia Tropical. 57: 1245-1252.

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