Gretchena bolliana

Type

Native

Taxonomy

Gretchena bolliana (Slingerland) (Tortricidae: Olethreutinae: Eucosmini)

Common name: pecan bud moth

Adult Recognition

FWL: 7.0-9.0 mm

Head, thorax gray, sometimes faintly tinged with green; forewing with ground color gray, similarly tinged in some individuals; black streak present at end of discal cell, sometimes continuous with black streaks on costal side of ocellusocellus:
forewing pattern element - an ovoid region anterior to the tornus; adult head - a simple insect "eye" located dorsal to the compound eye
and basal half of forewing to form a single streak from base to apexapex:
the point furthest removed from the base or at the end of the costal area
; ocellusocellus:
forewing pattern element - an ovoid region anterior to the tornus; adult head - a simple insect "eye" located dorsal to the compound eye
poorly-defined; male without costal fold; hindwing gray-brown.

Male genitalia are characterized by a small uncusuncus:
a sclerotized process which is fused to the posterodorsal margin of tergum IX
, socii, and a uniquely-shaped cuculluscucullus:
the distal portion of the male valva
. Female genitalia are characterized by an ostiumostium:
see ostium bursae
shielded by the posteriorposterior:
after, to the rear, toward anal end
portion of sternum VII and two thorn-like signasigna:
plural of "signum"
in the corpus bursaecorpus bursae:
a dilated membranous sac at the anterior end of the bursa copulatrix
.

Larval Morphology

The following account is summarized from MacKay (1959)MacKay (1959):
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338.
.

Mature larva 12-14 mm in length; width of head 1.3-1.6 mm; head yellow, dark brown in some specimens, with black pigmentation laterally; thoracic shield yellow to dark brown; body, legs pale yellow-green; anal fork moderately to well developed; SV group on A1, 2, 7, 8, 9 typically 3:3:2:2:2.

Detailed figures of larval chaetotaxychaetotaxy:
the arrangement of setae (in reference to Lepidoptera larvae), often depicted on a "setal map"
are available in MacKay (1959)MacKay (1959):
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338.
.

Pupa approximately 7-8 mm in length, caramel brown.

Similar Species

Gretchena bolliana is very similar to several other species of Gretchena, especially G. deludana. Gretchena deludana tends to fly earlier in the year than G. bolliana and has narrower black streaks on the forewing. Examination of the genitalia may be necessary to positively identify G. bolliana. The shape of the cuculluscucullus:
the distal portion of the male valva
in males and shape of the posteriorposterior:
after, to the rear, toward anal end
portion of sternum VII are diagnostic characters for species of Gretchena.

Biology

The following account is summarized from Moznette et al. (1931).

Eggs are laid on branches near buds of the host plant in the early spring. Later in the year the next generations of adults lay eggs on leaves themselves. Larval development takes approximately 25 days. Pupation occurs in rolled leaves or infested buds with adult eclosing one to two weeks later. There are several generations per year (up to six in Florida). Adults can be found year-round in Texas, Lousiana, and Florida. Further north, overwintering occurs in the adult stage; females will lay eggs as soon as buds begin to open in the spring.

The preferred host is pecan (Carya illinoisensis), which larvae can be a significant pest of in nurseries and young orchards. Adults have also been reared from walnut (Juglans spp.) and hickory (Carya spp.).

Host plant Host plant family Reference(s)
Carya aquatica Juglandaceae Mizel & Schiffhauer 1986, USNM collectionUSNM collection:
USNM collection. Based on identified reared specimens in the collection of the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.
Carya illinoiensis Juglandaceae Kearfott 1908Kearfott 1908:
Kearfott, W.D. 1908. New North American Tortricidae and Tineina. Journal of the New York Entomological Society. 16: 167-188.
; Moznette et al. 1931Moznette et al. 1931:
Moznette, G. F., Bissell, T. L., Adair, H. S. 1931. Insects of the pecan and how to combat them. United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Bulletin. 1654: 1-59.
; Kimball 1965Kimball 1965:
Kimball, C. P. 1965. The Lepidoptera of Florida: an annotated checklist. In : Arthropods of Florida and neighboring land areas, vol. 1. Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville. 363 pp.
; Mizel & Schiffhauer 1986
Carya sp. Juglandaceae Heinrich 1923bHeinrich 1923b:
Heinrich, C. 1923b. Revision of the North American moths of the subfamily Eucosminae of the family Olethreutidae. Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 123: 1-298.
; MacKay 1959MacKay 1959:
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338.
; Godfrey et al. 1987Godfrey et al. 1987:
Godfrey, G. L., Cashatt, E. D., Glenn, M. O. 1987. Microlepidoptera from the Sandy Creek and Illinois River Region: A annotated checklist of the suborders Dacnonypha, Monotrysia, and Ditrysia (in part) (Insecta). Spec. Publ. 7. Illinois Natural History Survey.
; Miller 1987aMiller 1987a:
Miller, W. E. 1987a. Guide to the Olethreutine moths of midland North America (Tortricidae). USDA Forest Service Agriculture Handbook 660: 1-104.
; Dickey & Medina 2010
Juglans cinerea Juglandaceae Prentice 1966Prentice 1966:
Prentice, R. M. 1966. Vol. 4. Microlepidoptera. In : Forest Lepidoptera of Canada recorded by the Forest Insect Survey. Dept. For. Canada Publ. 1142: 543-840.
Juglans sp. Juglandaceae Heinrich 1923bHeinrich 1923b:
Heinrich, C. 1923b. Revision of the North American moths of the subfamily Eucosminae of the family Olethreutidae. Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 123: 1-298.
; MacKay 1959MacKay 1959:
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338.
; Kimball 1965Kimball 1965:
Kimball, C. P. 1965. The Lepidoptera of Florida: an annotated checklist. In : Arthropods of Florida and neighboring land areas, vol. 1. Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville. 363 pp.
; Miller 1987aMiller 1987a:
Miller, W. E. 1987a. Guide to the Olethreutine moths of midland North America (Tortricidae). USDA Forest Service Agriculture Handbook 660: 1-104.
; Godfrey et al. 1987Godfrey et al. 1987:
Godfrey, G. L., Cashatt, E. D., Glenn, M. O. 1987. Microlepidoptera from the Sandy Creek and Illinois River Region: A annotated checklist of the suborders Dacnonypha, Monotrysia, and Ditrysia (in part) (Insecta). Spec. Publ. 7. Illinois Natural History Survey.

Host plant table (embedded)

View full screen host table here

Distribution

Gretchena bolliana is broadly distributed in the eastern United States, from New Jersey to Minnesota, south to Florida and eastern Texas. Much of the range of this species is outside of the natural range of pecan; its range expansion has likely been facilitated by the widespread planting of pecan for both agricultural and ornamental purposes. It could also preferentially use other hosts such as hickory and walnut in these areas.

Links

Additional photos and a distribution map of this species in North America are available at Moth Photographers Group.

 
 Male. © Loren Jones. Image used with permission.
Male. © Loren Jones. Image used with permission.
 Female. © Loren Jones. Image used with permission.
Female. © Loren Jones. Image used with permission.