Grapholita Treitschke
Type species: lunulana Denis and Schiffermüller
DIAGNOSIS
External characters:
Venation:
Forewing: Chorda and M -stem developed.
Hindwing: R and M 1 approximate basally; M 1 and M 2 parallel; M 3 and CuA 1 connate, rarely very shortly stalked.
Forewing shape and markings:
examples of Grapholita spp.
Moths often small; forewing relatively broad. Markings represented by irregular strigulae, unclear or forewing with pale medio-dorsal blotch, often divided by parallel lines.
Additional characters:
scent scales G. funebrana
Coremata present on intersegmental membrane 8-9, with scale tufts in the glandular patches attached to elongate sclerites.
Genitalia:
Male:
male genitalia G. molesta
Terminal prominence of tegumen often present, anterior convexity usually well developed; socius vestigial, represented by a group of hairs or completely atrophied. Valva distinctly incised ventrally; neck glabrous or with innumerous hairs; outer, membranous edge of cucullus often extending posteriorly; angulation of sacculus and cucullus species specific; bristles and spines preserved on cucullus, rarely beyond basal cavity. Aedeagus simple.
Female:
female genitalia G. lunulana
Sterigma in form of a weak postvaginal plate, or almost completely atrophied; sclerites of ductus bursae characteristic of subgenera; corpus bursae simple; two signa present, exceptionally one of them or both atrophied. Seventh sternite usually weakly sclerotized.
Taxonomic Note:
There are two subgenera:
- Grapholita Treitschke, 1829; Type sp. Tortrix lunulana Denis and Schiffermüller, 1775
- Aspila Stephens, 1834; Pseudotomia Aspila lediana Spehens 1835 = janthinana Duponchel, 1834
Early stages:
Swatschek, 1958, provides the following diagnosis for the larvae of Cydia and Grapholita.
SV group always unisetose on ninth abdominal segment, often unisetose on eighth.
If SV group bisetose on second abdominal segment, then D2 setae on separate pinacula on ninth abdominal segment or SD1 and SD2 on separate pinacula on mesothorax.
Biology:
Grapholita : Larvae feed in generative organs of plants, in younger instars also attacking leaves or stems, or live there till pupation. Associated with Leguminosae, a few species feeding on other plants e.g. Humulus and Cannabis.
Aspila : Larvae live in fruits, exceptionally in young twigs. Associated with Rosaceae.
Distribution:
Probably world wide, however, the species described from the tropics require re-examination.