Large Fruit-tree Tortrix
Archips podana
This record describes Archips podana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 18-26 mm. Sexual dimorphism is quite pronounced. The male has a costal fold on the forewing and is usually smaller and more brightly coloured than the female. The female has no costal fold and a much more protruding apex on the forewing. Gardens, orchards, hedgerows and woodland. The main flight period is June - July but adults can be found from May to September with late emerging specimens possibly being a less numerous second generation. They come readily to light. The larvae feed on the foliage, flowers and fruit of a wide variety of deciduous trees, including Apple, Plum, Blackthorn, Cherry and occasionally Conifers. The usual larval development is to feed between July and September and, after overwintering, they complete their feeding and growth in the following April or May. Occasionally full-grown larvae can be found in late August. These then pupate and emerge as adults in early September. Quite common in low-lying areas throughout England and Wales but less so in Scotland. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tortricinae
- Tribe
- Archipini
- Genus
- Archips
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Gardens, orchards, hedgerows and woodland.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period is June - July but adults can be found from May to September with late emerging specimens possibly being a less numerous second generation. They come readily to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on the foliage, flowers and fruit of a wide variety of deciduous trees, including Apple, Plum, Blackthorn, Cherry and occasionally Conifers. The usual larval development is to feed between July and September and, after overwintering, they complete their feeding and growth in the following April or May. Occasionally full-grown larvae can be found in late August. These then pupate and emerge as adults in early September.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Quite common in low-lying areas throughout England and Wales but less so in Scotland. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Archips podana. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Large Fruit-tree Tortrix (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Large Fruit-tree Tortrix
What is Large Fruit-tree Tortrix?
Large Fruit-tree Tortrix (Archips podana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Large Fruit-tree Tortrix found?
Habitat: Gardens, orchards, hedgerows and woodland.
When is Large Fruit-tree Tortrix active?
Large Fruit-tree Tortrix: seasonal activity - The main flight period is June - July but adults can be found from May to September with late emerging specimens possibly being a less numerous second generation. They come readily to light..
What is the life cycle of a Large Fruit-tree Tortrix?
The larvae feed on the foliage, flowers and fruit of a wide variety of deciduous trees, including Apple, Plum, Blackthorn, Cherry and occasionally Conifers. The usual larval development is to feed between July and September and, after overwintering, they complete their feeding and growth in the following April or May. Occasionally full-grown larvae can be found in late August. These then pupate and emerge as adults in early September.