Type

Native

Taxonomy

Sparganothis tunicana (Walsingham) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Sparganothini)

Synonyms: californiana (Dichelia)

Adult Recognition

FWL: 5.5-7.5 mm (males); 7.0-9.5 mm (females)

Forewings are yellow with brown to purplish-brown markings. The median fasciafascia:
a dark transverse band on the forewing
is complete and the distaldistal:
farthest from body, distant from point of attachment
half of the wing is solid brown in most individuals. Labial palpilabial palpi:
a pair of sensory appendages that project from the lower part of the head; usually covered in scales and three-segmented
are short in comparison to other Sparganothini. Males lack a forewing costal foldforewing costal fold:
a flap or fold at the base of the forewing that contains specialized sex scales
. Hindwings are brown.

Male genitalia are characterized by a long, slender uncusuncus:
a sclerotized process which is fused to the posterodorsal margin of tergum IX
; slender, setosesetose:
covered with setae
socii; and membranous, elliptical valvaevalvae:
plural of "valva"
. Female genitalia are characterized by a quadrate sterigmasterigma:
the sclerotized region surrounding the female ostium bursae
; a twice-coiled ductus bursaeductus bursae:
a membranous tube connecting the ostium bursae to the corpus bursae
; and the signumsignum:
a sclerotized projection or patch on the interior of the corpus bursae
is present as a narrow, slightly sinuatesinuate:
a curved or wavy margin
band in the corpus bursaecorpus bursae:
a dilated membranous sac at the anterior end of the bursa copulatrix
. 

Larval Morphology

Larval morphology has not been described for this species, but is likely similar to other species of Sparganothis.

Similar Species

Sparganothis tunicana may be confused with other species of Sparganothis. Sparganothis senecionana is similar but can be distinguished from S. tunicana by its larger size and longer labial palpilabial palpi:
a pair of sensory appendages that project from the lower part of the head; usually covered in scales and three-segmented
.

Biology

Sparganothis tunicana completes a single annual generation over much of its range. Adults are present April to August depending on location. Little else is known about its life history, but it is probably similar to that of S. senecionana. 

Larvae of S. tunicana are polyphagous have been recorded feeding on plants in more than 10 families.

Host plant	Host plant family	Reference(s)
Lomatium nudicaule	Apiaceae	Caldwell 2014Caldwell 2014: Caldwell, J. A. 2014. California plants as resources for Lepidoptera: a guide for gardeners, restorationists and naturalists. 413 pp.
Lomatium utriculatum	Apiaceae	Caldwell 2014Caldwell 2014: Caldwell, J. A. 2014. California plants as resources for Lepidoptera: a guide for gardeners, restorationists and naturalists. 413 pp.
Artemisia douglasiana	Asteraceae	Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA.
Baccharis sp.	Asteraceae	Caldwell 2014Caldwell 2014: Caldwell, J. A. 2014. California plants as resources for Lepidoptera: a guide for gardeners, restorationists and naturalists. 413 pp.
Balsamorhiza sagittata	Asteraceae	Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA.
Crepis intermedia	Asteraceae	Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA.
Eriophyllum lanatum	Asteraceae	Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA.
Microseris nutans	Asteraceae	Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA.
Senecio aronicoides	Asteraceae	Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA.
Senecio integerrimus	Asteraceae	Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA.
Tragopogon lamottei	Asteraceae	Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA.
Mahonia repens	Berberidaceae	Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA.
Lithospermum ruderale	Boraginaceae	Caldwell 2014Caldwell 2014: Caldwell, J. A. 2014. California plants as resources for Lepidoptera: a guide for gardeners, restorationists and naturalists. 413 pp.
Trifolium hybridum	Fabaceae	Caldwell 2014Caldwell 2014: Caldwell, J. A. 2014. California plants as resources for Lepidoptera: a guide for gardeners, restorationists and naturalists. 413 pp.
Trifolium pratense	Fabaceae	Caldwell 2014Caldwell 2014: Caldwell, J. A. 2014. California plants as resources for Lepidoptera: a guide for gardeners, restorationists and naturalists. 413 pp.
Quercus durata	Fagaceae	Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA.
Phacelia heterophylla	Hydrophyllaceae	Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA.
Salvia dorrii	Lamiaceae	Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA.
Pinus ponderosa	Pinaceae	Caldwell 2014Caldwell 2014: Caldwell, J. A. 2014. California plants as resources for Lepidoptera: a guide for gardeners, restorationists and naturalists. 413 pp.
Prunus sp.	Rosaceae	Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA.
Rosa sp.	Rosaceae	Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA.
Populus sp.	Salicaceae	Caldwell 2014Caldwell 2014: Caldwell, J. A. 2014. California plants as resources for Lepidoptera: a guide for gardeners, restorationists and naturalists. 413 pp.
Castilleja sp.	Scrophulariaceae	Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA.
Penstemon deustus	Scrophulariaceae	Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA.
Penstemon laetus	Host plant table (embedded) View full screen host table here Distribution Sparganothis tunicana is recorded from California, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia. A single record from North Carolina is dubious. Links Additional photos and a distribution map of this species in North America are available at Moth Photographers Group. Male Male Male Male genitalia Female genitalia previous next