Argyresthia conjugella

Argyresthia conjugella, the apple fruit moth, is a moth of the family Yponomeutidae. It is found in North America, Europe,[1] Siberia, Central Asia and Japan.

Argyresthia conjugella
Argyresthia conjugella form aerariella, Trawscoed, North Wales
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Argyresthiidae
Genus: Argyresthia
Species:
A. conjugella
Binomial name
Argyresthia conjugella
Zeller, 1839
Synonyms
  • Tinea maculosa Tengström, 1847
  • Argyresthia aerariella Stainton, 1871

The wingspan is 10–14 mm. The head is yellowish-white. Forewings are rather dark purplish-fuscous; costa strigulated with whitish; a thick white dorsal streak to tornus; an interrupted dark fuscous median fascia; one or two white costal spots before apex. Hindwings are grey. The larva is dull whitish yellow; head and plate of 2 pale brown.[2]

Adults are on wing from May to July depending on the location.

The larvae feed on Sorbus aucuparia and Malus species.

The apple fruit moth, is seen to be a parasite for the apple growing communities in Finland, Norway, and Sweden. These moths are seed predators for the mountain-ash trees rowan.[3] However, when there is a dip in the fruit produced by rowan every couple years in this region, the apple fruit moth finds a new host in the form of apples. Apples are not their desired host however and they communicate with the rowan seeds they prefer through odors.[4]

References
  1. Fauna Europaea
  2. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description
  3. Elameen, A; Eiken, HG; Floystad, I; Knudsen, G; Hagen, SB. 2018. Monitoring of the Apple Fruit Moth: Detection of Genetic Variation and Structure Applying a Novel Multiplex Set of 19 STR Markers 22
  4. Knudsen, GK; Bengtsson, M; Kobro, S; Jaastad, G; Hofsvang, T; Witzgall, P. 2008. Discrepancy in laboratory and field attraction of apple fruit moth Argyresthia conjugella to host plant volatiles. 33:1-6.


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