Exotic
Exotic, but established
Native
Formerly considered a subgenus of Grapholita, Aspila was recently raised to genus status by Hu et al. (2023) to accommodate a group of 18 species that use Rosaceae as a primary host (as opposed to Fabaceae in Grapholita). Both genera are defined by a pair of corematacoremata:
sex scales, usually found in the male 
and short laterallateral:
to the side
projections on the eighth sternite in the male.
Adults are small (FWLFWL:
forewing length; the distance from the base of the forewing to the apex, including fringe
3.5-7.5 mm) and brown, often with less distinctive strigulae compared to Grapholita. Male genitalia are characterized by the absence of an uncusuncus:
a sclerotized process which is fused to the posterodorsal margin of tergum IX
and sociisocii:
a pair of lightly sclerotized setose lobes
, and a well-defined, densely setosesetose:
covered with setae
cuculluscucullus:
the distal portion of the male valva
. Female genitalia are characterized by a short ductus bursaeductus bursae:
a membranous tube connecting the ostium bursae to the corpus bursae
and two thornlike signasignum:
a sclerotized projection or patch on the interior of the corpus bursae
in the corpus bursaecorpus bursae:
a dilated membranous sac at the anterior end of the bursa copulatrix
in many species.
This genus contains many well known tortricid pests, such as the oriental fruit moth (A. molesta), cherry fruit worm (A. packardi), lesser apple worm (A. prunivora), and plum fruit moth (A. funebrana). Larvae are internal feeders in fruit and can cause significant economic damage to stone-fruits (almonds, apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, etc.). The white to reddish larvae resemble those of other internally feeding olethreutines, such as Cydia and Grapholita, but larvae can usually be separated from Cydia by the anal fork, which is present in many Aspila and Grapholita and absent in most Cydia. Larvae of Aspila are best separated from Grapholita by host plant: Aspila typically use Rosaceae while Grapholita typically use Fabaceae (with exceptions).
Except for A. funebrana, all of the species treated here are present in North America. Aspila funebrana is one of the most important lepidopteran pests of stone-fruit in Europe and its exclusion from North America is a top priority. Aspila larvae are commonly intercepted at U.S. ports of entry on a variety of products originating from Europe, Central America, and South America.
For more information on Aspila larvae, please consult the fact sheet and keys on LepIntercept. Note that species placed in Aspila on this site are placed in Grapholita on LepIntercept.
Exotic species
Aspila funebrana
Exotic, but established species
Aspila molesta
Native species
Aspila packardi
View full screen host table here
