Adult Recognition
FWL: 8.5-14.0 mm
Forewing color varies from pale yellow to cream to light brown. Many individuals are unmarked although some exhibit a faint reticulated forewing pattern. Hindwings are brownish gray and white or yellowish. Males lack a forewing costal fold.
Adults are similar to Clepsis clemensiana, and the two species are often mixed in collections. Males can be separated by the forewing costal fold, which is present in C. clemensiana and absent in X. pallorana. A genitalic dissection can be used to confirm identity.
Larval Morphology
Late instar larvae are approximately 16-28 mm long with a green abdomen. The head and prothoracic shield are green and unmarked. An anal comb is present with 7-9 teeth. The unmarked larvae of X. pallorana may appear similar to those of many other Archipini.
Biology
Xenotemna pallorana completes two annual generations over much of its range. Adults are present May to August.
Females lay eggs in masses on the upper surface of leaves. Larvae feed in folded leaves and mid-instar larvae construct a hibernaculum in which overwintering occurs. Feeding resumes in the spring and pupation occurs in the final larval feeding site.
Host plants
Chapman and Lienk (1971) suggest that primary larval hosts are limited to herbaceous legumes such as alfalfa and white sweet clover. Other larval hosts, such as apple, are considered secondary hosts. Xenotemna pallorana has also been reported to cause economic injury to young pines in plantations.
| Family | Genus/species | Common name |
| Asteraceae | Aster L. | aster |
| Asteraceae | Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. | eastern daisy |
| Asteraceae | Silphium L. | rosinweed |
| Asteraceae | Solidago L. | goldenrod |
| Asteraceae | Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (L.) G. L. Nesom | New England aster |
| Clusiaceae | Hypericum perforatum L. | common St. Johnswort |
| Fabaceae | Medicago sativa L. | alfalfa |
| Fabaceae | Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. | yellow sweetclover |
| Fabaceae | Melilotus Mill. | sweetclover |
| Fabaceae | Trifolium L. | clover |
| Lamiaceae | Monarda fistulosa L. | wild bergamot |
| Pinaceae | Picea glauca (Moench) Voss | white spruce |
| Pinaceae | Pinus banksiana Lamb. | jack pine |
| Pinaceae | Pinus resinosa Aiton | red pine |
| Pinaceae | Pinus strobus L. | eastern white pine |
| Pinaceae | Pinus sylvestris L. | Scots pine |
| Pinaceae | Pinus L. | pine |
| Rosaceae | Fragaria L. | strawberry |
| Rosaceae | Malus Mill. | apple |
| Rosaceae | Prunus pumila L. | sandcherry |
| Rosaceae | Prunus serotina Ehrh. | black cherry |
| Rosaceae | Prunus virginiana L. | chokecherry |
| Rosaceae | Prunus L. | |
| Rosaceae | Rosa L. | rose |
| Santalaceae | Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt. | bastard toadflax |
| Ulmaceae | Ulmus L. | elm |
| Verbenaceae | Verbena L. | vervain |
Distribution
Xenotemna pallorana is widespread in the continental United States and southern Canada.
References
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.
MacKay, M. R. 1962. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). The Canadian Entomologist Supplement 28: 1-182.
Powell, J. A. and P. A. Opler. 2009. Moths of western North America. University of California Press, Berkeley. 369 pp.
