Epichoristodes Diakonoff
Subgenus Epichoristodes ; Type species: leucocymba Meyrick
Subgenus Tubula ; Type species: ionephela Meyrick = acerbella (Walker)
DIAGNOSIS
External characters:
Venation:
venation E. leucocymba (Diakonoff, 1960: p. 166, fig. 78)
Forewing: All veins separate.
Hindwing: M 3 -CuA 1 extending from one point or approximate basally; shortly stalked in one specimen (of Epichoristodes leucocymba); R-M 1 extending from one point or approximate basally.
Forewing shape and markings:
Epichoristodes acerbella male; E. acerbella female 1
Forewing elongate-truncate (subgenus Epichoristodes), or pointed terminally (subgenus Tubula); without costal fold. Markings variable, greatly reduced in the economically important Epichoristodes acerbella.
Genitalia:
Male:
male genitalia E. acerbella
Transtilla divided (in subgenus Epichoristodes) or entire (subgenus Tubula). Valva semi-oval.
Female:
female gen. E. acerbella
Lamella postvaginalis developed; signum serrulate (in subgenus Epichoristodes); or lamella postvaginalis weak; signum smooth, obtuse (subgenus Tubula).
Taxonomic note:
When Diakonoff, 1960, described the genus Epichoristodes, he divided the genus in two subgenera, Epichoristodes and Tubula , based on differences in genitalia; acerbella was described in Tubula. In the subgenus Epichoristodes, the transtilla is divided into two sclerotized dentate parts; in Tubula the transtilla is entire. Female genitalia differ in the development of the lamella postvaginalis.
According to Horak, 1984, the divided transtilla is a derived character in Archipini. The simple bandlike transtilla has undergone a series of transformations, finally resulting in the bipartite, dented transtilla as is known from the subgenus Epichoristodes, and for instance also from the genus Clepsis. I therefore think that Tubula should be treated as a separate (non-related) genus but the pest species acerbella can still be found in the species cards as Epichoristodes acerbella.
Early stages:
Details on early stages are only known from Epichoristodes acerbella.
Eggs of Epichoristodes acerbella are deposited in elongate clusters of about 25 eggs. Full-grown larvae are about 15 mm long; green to yellowish in colour, with dark green dorsal and subdorsal lines and whitish pinacula. Pupae are dark brown.
Biology:
Epichoristodes acerbella has four generations per year, between April and October, on host plants in the open air in France, Italy and Spain. The threshold of development is about 6°C. However, the overwintering larvae are able to withstand lower temperatures. In glasshouses the number of generations is higher, but they are difficult to distinguish, since all stages are present during most of the year. Larvae are polyphagous.
Distribution:
The genus is known from Africa and Madagascar. Epichoristodes acerbella has been introduced to, and is now firmly established in, Italy, Spain and France. It has also been recorded from glasshouses in Northern Europe.