Adoxophyes orana

Tortrix ( Adoxophyes orana )

The tortrix ( Adoxophyes orana ) is a butterfly of the family of the winder ( Tortricidae ). The caterpillars are colloquially referred to as fruit maggots.

Description

The male moths reach a wingspan of 17-19 mm, the female moths have a wingspan of 19-22 millimeters. Head and thorax are colored beige. The forewing brownish yellow or brownish to yellow-gray. The hind wings are gray or brown.

Flight time

The species forms in two generations of June to August and in September. The summer caterpillars can be observed from the end of June.

Habitat

The oligophagen caterpillars can develop on the leaves of a wide variety of fruits. These include apple trees, pear trees, cherry trees, plum trees, apricot trees and currant bushes.

Way of life

Eggs are laid by the female in located from 20 to 100 pieces on top of apple leaves. On pear trees laying eggs on the lower leaf surface occurs. The caterpillars are green -yellow to olive green. The caterpillars overwinter and pupate in May. The dolls are about 10 to 11 millimeters long and dark brown.

Pest

The green caterpillars of the tortrix are considered pests in agriculture. In addition to the less economically significant feeding on the leaves of plants that eat caterpillars also on the flowers and the surface of the fruit, which the latter may not be suitable for sale.

Dissemination

The summer fruit is widely used in Europe. Its range extends across Asia to Japan.