Native
Exotic
Amorbia Clemens (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Sparganothini)
The genus Amorbia contains approximately 40 described species. Most are distributed in the Neotropics, although a few are present in the Nearctic. Adults are characterized by the absence of ocelliocelli:
adult head - a simple insect "eye" located dorsal to the compound eye; plural of ocellus 
, a dark line of scales on the apical area of the hindwing, and several genitalic characters, including: gnathosgnathos:
a narrow bandlike structure that joins the posterolateral edges of the tegumen and supports the anal tube
absent; aedeagusaedeagus:
the male intromittent organ (penis); see "phallus" 
lacking external armature; corpus bursaecorpus bursae:
a dilated membranous sac at the anterior end of the bursa copulatrix
sac-shaped; signumsignum:
a sclerotized projection or patch on the interior of the corpus bursae
large and band-shaped; and sterigmasterigma:
the sclerotized region surrounding the female ostium bursae 
developed into a pair of laterallateral:
to the side
pockets (Phillips-Rodriguez and Powell 2007).
The majority of Amorbia larvae arriving at U.S. ports are from Central and South America. Larvae have been intercepted on Crataegus (hawthorn), Limonium (lavender), Ocimum (basil), Persea (avocado), Rubus (blackberry, raspberry, etc.), and cut flowers. Interceptions are very common although most specimens are not identified to species.
Late instar larvae can be distinguished by the dark brown to black laterallateral:
to the side bands on the head and prothoracic shieldprothoracic shield:
a sclerotized plate on the dorsal surface of the prothorax 
. Identification of early instars is difficult as the laterallateral:
to the side bands are often absent and molecular diagnostics may be necessary to confirm identity. For more information on Amorbia larvae, please consult the fact sheet and keys on LepIntercept.
Two of the three species treated here, A. cuneanum Walsingham and A. emigratella Busck, are occasional pests of various crops in western North America. Adults and larvae are most often encountered as non-target captures during surveys for exotic pests such as Epiphyas postvittana. The third species, A. humerosana Clemens, is a common species in eastern North America but is not considered economically important. For photos of additional non-targets not covered here, visit the Moth Photographers Group link below.
Native species
View full screen host table here
Fig. 9: University of California Statewide IPM Program (UC IPM Web Site)
Additional photos and distribution maps for species in the United States and Canada available at Moth Photographers Group.
