Adult Recognition
FWL: 8.0-11.0 mm
Forewings are light brownish gray with brown or gray fasciate markings. Males have a forewing costal fold. Male genitalia are characterized by valvae that appear to be twisted dorsally. Female genitalia are characterized by a twisted ductus bursae and a single daggerlike signum in the corpus bursae.
Adults may appear similar to other gray-brown archipines with a fasciate forewing pattern. A genitalic dissection can be used to confirm identity.
Larval Morphology
Late instar larvae are pale cream with a reddish-brown line running along the SD setae and faint reddish-brown markings on each segment dorsal to the pale D setal pinacula. The head and thoracic legs are dark brown. The prothoracic shield is dark brown posteriorly, becoming pale cream anteriorly.
Biology
Isotenes miserana completes several generations per year. Generations are overlapping and adults may be present year-round in some locations.
Females lay eggs in masses and surround them with "fences" constructed from specialized scales on the abdomen. Larvae tunnel into fruit and feed just below the skin; they may also feed on buds and young leaves. Pupation occurs in the larval feeding shelter.
Host plantsLarvae of I. miserana are polyphagous and have been recorded feeding on citrus, camellia, macadamia, peach, rose, and a variety of other plants in at least 14 families.
Family | Genus/species | Common name |
Annonaceae | Melodorum Lour. | |
Apocynaceae | Nerium L. | oleander |
Asclepiadaceae | Marsdenia sp. | |
Fabaceae | Lupinus L. | lupine |
Fabaceae | Pultenaea Sm. | |
Lamiaceae | Premna L. | premna |
Lauraceae | Cinnamomum Schaeff. | cinnamon |
Lauraceae | Litsea Lam. | |
Meliaceae | Toona (Endl.) M. Roem. | |
Moraceae | Ficus benjamina L. | weeping fig |
Moraceae | Ficus L. | fig |
Moraceae | Morus L. | mulberry |
Myrsinaceae | Aegiceras corniculatum (L.) Blanco | black mangrove |
Pinaceae | Pinus merkusii Jungh. & de Vriese | Sumatran pine |
Proteaceae | Macadamia F. Muell. | macadamia |
Rosaceae | Malus Mill. | apple |
Rosaceae | Prunus L. | [unspecified] |
Rosaceae | Rosa L. | rose |
Rutaceae | Citrus L. | citrus |
Theaceae | Camellia L. | camellia |
Verbenaceae | Lantana L. | lantana |
Verbenaceae | Vitex L. | vitex |
Distribution
Isotenes miserana is a native of Australia (Northern Territory and Queensland) that has spread to New Zealand and South Asia.
References
Diakonoff, A. 1939. The genera of Indo-Malayan and Papuan Torticidae. Zoologische Mededeelingen (Leiden). 21: 111-240.
Dugdale, J. S., D. Gleeson, L. H. Clunie and P. W. Holder. 2005. A diagnostic guide to Tortricidae encountered in field surveys and quarantine inspections in New Zealand: Morphological and molecular characters. National Plant Pest Reference Laboratory. 161 pp.