Decodes basiplagana

Type

Native

Taxonomy

Decodes basiplagana (Walsingham) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Cnephasiini)

Adult Recognition

FWLFWL:
forewing length; the distance from the base of the forewing to the apex, including fringe
: 8.0-9.0 mm

Forewings are gray with a strongly arched costacosta:
the anterior margin of each wing
. Forewing pattern varies greatly, with some individuals expressing well-defined dark-gray and black fasciatefasciate:
a wing pattern that is comprised primarily of transverse bands (fasciae)
markings, and others being unmarked. Males lack a forewing costal foldforewing costal fold:
a flap or fold at the base of the forewing that contains specialized sex scales
.

Male genitalia are characterized by a long, slender, minutely spined uncusuncus:
a sclerotized process which is fused to the posterodorsal margin of tergum IX
; setosesetose:
covered with setae
sociisocii:
a pair of lightly sclerotized setose lobes
; and elongate, narrow valvaevalva:
an appendage flanking the intromittent organ that is used to clasp the female during copulation
. Female genitalia are characterized by unusual, modified papillae analespapillae anales:
the female ovipositor lobes
; and a signumsignum:
a sclerotized projection or patch on the interior of the corpus bursae
present in the corpus bursaecorpus bursae:
a dilated membranous sac at the anterior end of the bursa copulatrix
as a elongate patch of spine-like scobinations.

Larval Morphology

Larvae have not been described.

Similar Species

Decodes fragariana is similar, but males have an aedeagusaedeagus:
the male intromittent organ (penis); see "phallus"
that is curved more than 90 degrees and females lack a signumsignum:
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
. Decodes montanus is similar to both species, but the male aedeagusaedeagus:
the male intromittent organ (penis); see "phallus"
is more strongly curved than in D. fragariana and females of D. montanus have a band of dark scales on the seventh sternite that is lacking in the other two species. Wing pattern is not diagnostic and cannot be used to reliably separate the Decodes species included on this site.

Biology

The life history of D. basiplagana is unknown, although it is assumed to be similar to that of D. fragariana.

Larvae have been recorded feeding on oak.

Host plant	Host plant family	Reference(s)
Quercus lobata	Fagaceae	Powell 1980; Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA.
Quercus sp.	Fagaceae	Wagner et al. 1995Wagner et al. 1995: Wagner, D. L., Peacock, J. W., Carter, J. L., Talley, S. E. 1995. Spring caterpillar fauna of oak and blueberry in a Virginia deciduous forest. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 88: 416-426.