Moths of North Carolina
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7 NC Records

Grapholita prunivora (Walsh, 1868) - Lesser Appleworm Moth

Grapholita prunivoraGrapholita prunivora
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: GrapholitiniP3 Number: 51a1326.4 MONA Number: 3429.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923); Gilligan et al. (2008)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based in part on the description by Forbes (1923). The face and palps are whitish and the vertex and antennae brown. The thorax is often two-toned with the anterior portion brown and concolorous with the vertex, and the posterior portion pale yellowish brown. The forewing ground varies from golden-orange to brownish-yellow and is heavily overlain with varying levels of brownish to blackish dusting and mottling, along with fine horizontal striations near the middle of the wing. The middle of the inner margin has a light patch that consists of a series of outwardly oblique and alternating blackish and cream-colored to whitish striations. The patch extends to the middle of the wing where it often joins a pair of outwardly oblique pale silvery blue striae that originate on the middle of the costa. Two additional silvery blue striae occur apically. The first originates on the costa at around two-thirds and angles towards the ocellus and subtornal region of the inner margin, while the second originates at around three-fourths and projects towards the middle of the termen. A well-developed orangish ocellus is present in the middle of the wing in the subterminal region that has silvery bars of the anterior and posterior sides and 3-4 horizontal black dashes. A black terminal line is present on the termen that is preceded by a zone of yellow-orange scales. The costal margin has a series of pale-yellow to whitish costal strigulae that are mostly restricted to the apical half, and the hindwing is medium brown with a paler fringe.
Forewing Length: 4.0-5.5 mm (Gilligan et al. (2008).
Adult Structural Features: Gilligan et al. (2008) and Gilligan and Epstein (TortAI) have images of the male and female genitalia and note that the male valva has an angular apex and an evenly rounded anal angle of the cucullus. The female genitalia have a ringlike sterigma with weakly sclerotized lateral extensions.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The following life history account is based on summaries by Hull et al. (1995) and Bragard et al. (2018) and are mostly based on observations in apple orchards where the larvae are primarily internal feeders on fruit, but occasionally bore into young shoots. The mature larvae in the final seasonal brood overwinter in cracks and crevices on tree trunks, in the leaf litter below the tree, or occasionally in the calyx end of a fallen fruit. The larvae pupate within the hibernacula early in the spring and the adults emergence 2-3 weeks later, with peak emergence in May and June. Females lay their eggs singly on the upper surface of leaves or on the young fruit, and the hatchlings immediately begin mining the fruit just beneath the skin. The larvae feed primarily at either the calyx or stem ends and produce a blotchy mine just below the surface. An inconspicuous pile of frass is usually present near the feeding site. The first generation larvae complete development by mid-July to early August and may or may not leave the fruit to pupate in tightly woven white cocoons. The first adults of the second generation begin to emerge by early August and peak emergence generally occurs by mid-August. Adult flight from this generation may continue into October. Larvae of the second generation are often present at harvest and begin to form hibernacula in October. The larvae of Grapholita prunivora reach a length of around 9 mm are indistinguishable from those of G. molesta and G. packardi. All have a dark brown head capsule and thoracic shield, a white body with reddish-pink shading, and a tan anal comb.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from close inspection of specimens or by DNA analysis.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Grapholita prunivora is native to North America and occurs throughout southern Canada, in much of the eastern U.S., and in California, Oregon, and Washington in the West. In the eastern US, the range extends from Maine southward to central Alabama and westward to Oklahoma, Illinois, and Minnesota. This species has likely expanded its range since European colonization in association with the widespread planting of apples and other fruit crops (Hull et al., 1995). As of 2022, we have records from the Piedmont and a lower elevation site in the Blue Ridge.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Most populations appear to be bivoltine with a spring and summer brood. Adults have been documented from April through November, with most flying between May and September. As of 2022, our very few dated records are from April-May and September, which is consistent with a bivoltine life cycle.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are associated with deciduous forests and forest edge habitats, residential neighborhoods, as well as commercial and abandoned orchards.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae feed almost exclusively on members of the Rosaceae (Heinrich, 1926; MacKay, 1959; Prentice, 1966; Chapman and Lienk, 1971; Robinson et al., 2010; Gilligan and Epstein, 2014; Bragard et al., 2018). The reported hosts include serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.), hawthorns (Crataegus spp.), Quince (Cydonia oblonga), apples and crabapples (Malus spp.), Christmasberry (Photinia spp.), cultivated apricots, peaches, cherries and plums (Prunus spp.), American Plum (P. americana), Fire Cherry (P. pensylvanica), pears (Pyrus spp.) and roses (Rosa spp.). The larvae can also develop in aphid galls on elms (Ulmus spp.) and oaks (Quercus spp.; Heinrich, 1926). Prentice (1966) also reported larvae feeding within a black-knot fungus. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and pheromone traps, and the larvae can be found in fleshy fruits.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S2-S4
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species appears to be uncommon within the state where it is close to its southern range limit.

 Photo Gallery for Grapholita prunivora - Lesser Appleworm Moth

Photos: 2

Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2021-08-27
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: J. Merrill Lynch on 2015-05-13
Watauga Co.
Comment: