Argyresthia pruniella

Argyresthia pruniella, the cherry fruit moth or cherry blossom tineid, is a moth from the family Yponomeutidae, the ermine moths.[1]

Cherry blossom tineid
Argyresthia pruniella. Side view
Dorsal view
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Argyresthiidae
Genus: Argyresthia
Species:
A. pruniella
Binomial name
Argyresthia pruniella
Clerck, 1759
Synonyms
  • Phalaena pruniella Clerck, 1759
  • Tinea ephippella Fabricius, 1775

Description

Argyresthia pruniella has a wingspan of 10–13 millimetres (0.39–0.51 in).[2] Forewings are reddish-brown with a white dorsal stripe and a dark transversal brown stripe in the middle. Antennae are white with brown bands. Along the forewings lower edge there is a row of white spots. Hindwings are brownish and very narrow, with very long fringes. The caterpillars are pale green with a brown head.[3][4]

Biology

Larvae are oligophagous. Main host plants are apple, apricot, cherry, peach, plum, pear and hazel. The larva lives in the shoots.[2] The flight time ranges from early July[2] to late August.[3] These moths are attracted to light. They are considered a pest of the cultures of said plants.[4]

Distribution

This species can be found in most of Europe,[5] in Asia Minor and in North America.[6]

  • Argyresthia pruniella
  • Side view
  • Mounted specimen

References
  1. Biolib
  2. UK Moths
  3. Microlepidoptera Archived December 22, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Agro Atlas
  5. Fauna Europaea
  6. Funet


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