Archips xylosteana, the variegated golden tortrix or brown oak tortrix, is a moth of the family Tortricidae.
| Archips xylosteana | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Tortricidae |
| Genus: | Archips |
| Species: | A. xylosteana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Archips xylosteana | |
| Synonyms | |
|
List
| |
Distribution
editThis Palearctic moth is widespread in most of Europe, in Asia (China, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Siberia, Turkey), and in northern Africa (Algeria).[2][3][4]
Habitat
editThis moth species inhabit woodland and scrub in hilly and mountainous areas. [5][6]
Description
editArchips xylosteana is a medium-sized to large moth with a wingspan reaching 14–23 millimetres (0.55–0.91 in).[6] The females are usually slightly larger than the males. The basic color of the fore wings varies from yellow-brown or ocher to pinkish brown, mottled with dark reddish brown markings. Forewings are broad and roughly rectangular. Hind wings are light grayish brown. [4] The design of the wings may appear lightly asymmetric, because at rest one of the wing covers the other[4] and hides part of it. The caterpillar varies from whitish gray to bluish with greenish reflections and have a black head. [4] Meyrick describes it - Forewings with termen sinuate, vertical, costal fold from base to 3/5, irregular ; ochreous more or less fuscous-tinged, paler towards costa ; a transverse dorsal spot near base, central fascia with anterior edge sinuate, costal patch broadly connected with it near costa, a blotch from above tornus sometimes connected with costal patch, and an apical spot dark ferruginous-brown. Hindwings grey, apex sometimes yellowish-tinged. Larva whitish-grey or pale greenish ; head black ;plate of 2 black, anterior edge white.[7] Julius von Kennel provides a full description. [8]
Biology
editThese moths fly from June to August in one generation.[4][6] They rest during the day in the foliage of trees and shrubs. Their activity begins at dusk. [6] They overwinter on tree trunks and thick boughs.
Caterpillars grow protected in a rolled leaf, perpendicularly to the midrib, from April to June. These larvae are polyphagous, feeding on various shrubs and deciduous trees, [4] mainly oak (Quercus), elm (Ulmus), linden (Tilia), hazel (Corylus), maples (Acer), ash (Fraxinus, firs (Abies), brambles (Rubus), honeysuckle (Lonicera) and St John's worts (Hypericum)). [5] They can also be found on various fruit trees (apple, pear, etc.) [9] and on some herbaceous plants.
Gallery
edit-
Caterpillar -
Moth, side view -
Moth, female -
Mounted specimen. Male
.jpg)
Bibliography
edit- Linnaeus, C. (1758): Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. 1-824. Holmiae (Laurentius Salvius).
- Robinson, G. S. & E. Schmidt Nielsen (1983): The Microlepidoptera described by Linnaeus and Clerck. — Systematic Entomology 8: 191-242.
References
edit- ^ Tortricidae.com
- ^ Funa europaea
- ^ Bong-Kyu, Byun; Shan-Chun, Yan; Cheng-De, Li (2003). "Revision of Tribe Archipini (Tortricidae: Tortricinae) in Northeast China". Journal of Forestry Research. 14 (2): 93–102. doi:10.1007/BF02856773.
- ^ a b c d e f IDtools
- ^ a b "Suffolk Moths". Archived from the original on 2018-05-11. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
- ^ a b c d UK Moths
- ^ Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description
- ^ Julius von Kennel, 1921, The Palaearktischen Tortriciden, eine monographische Darstellung. Stuttgart: E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung. 742 pp. - Palaearctic Tortricidae, a monograph.pdf at Zobodat 130- 131
- ^ Historische Lepidopteren-Literatur / Schütze (1931)
