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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #82722
Title: LARVAL FOODPLANTS OF EULIINI (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE): FROM ABIES TO VITIS

Author
item Brown, John
item PASSOA, STEVEN - USDA/APHIS/PPQ, COL. OHIO

Submitted to: The Pan-Pacific Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/21/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Tortricid moths are often pests of U.S. crops and can cause substantial damage. The Euliini is a large group of tortricid moths occurring primarily in the New World tropics. Little is known of their life histories or larval foodplants. A review of published literature and data from museum specimens indicates that most members of the tribe are moderately to highly polyphagous, feeding on a wide range of plant families. Documented hosts encompass 36 vascular plant families, with Rosaceae amd Rutaceae used more frequently than any other plant families. Several euliine genera (e.g., Proeulia, Chileula, Bonagota) include pests of cultivated plants (e.g., grapes, citrue, stone fruits), particularly in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. A few genera deviate from this pattern of polyphagy: Apolychrosis and Apotomops are restricted to Pinaceae, and Anopina and Dorithia appear to be leaf-litter feeders. Although most Tortricinae are leaf-rollers, many Euliini feed externally on the surface of fruit and sometimes bore into host plant tissue. This information will be useful to regulatory personnel charged with identifying insects and to scientists trying to control pest moths on crops.

Technical Abstract: A list of larval foodplants for members of the tortricid tribe Euliini was compiled based on a review of literature and label data of museum specimens. Of the 70 genera included in the tribe, larval foodplants are known for one or more species of only 11 genera. Several polyphagous genera (e.g., Proeulia, Chileula, Bonagota) include pests of cultivated plants, particularly in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. Host plant records for most Euliini indicate polyphagous feeding habits at both the generic and species level. Only a few genera deviate from this pattern: Apolychrosis and Apotomops are restricted to Pinaceae, and Anopina and Dorithia appear to be leaf-litter feeders. Although most Tortricinae are leaf-rollers, many Euliini feed externally on the surface of fruit and sometimes bore into host plant tissue.