EYESPOTTED BUD MOTH

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Title: EYESPOTTED BUD MOTH
Description: LATIN NAME: Spilonota ocellana (Dyar & Shannon) LIFE CYCLE: Overwinter on host as young larvae that become active in spring. Adults present mid-June to mid-August. New generation of larvae present late June to early September, then leave for overwintering sites. One generation per year. MONITORING: Examine host trees from tight cluster through petal-fall for small larvae (often feeding under dead leaf attached to fruit). For the summer generation, examine fruit for feeding damage. HOSTS: Fruit trees (mainly apple and cherry). COMMENTS: Bud moth larvae can be distinguished from young brown fruitworms by their shiny black head and black segment behind the head, and the darker chocolate brown body colour. Brown fruitworms have a brown head and segment behind the head. Bud moth larvae wriggle backwards when disturbed. Brown fruitworms curl up. The summer generation larvae often tie a green or dead leaf to the fruit under which they feed, creating shallow holes in the surface. This damage resembles that of a two-generation leafroller species (obliquebanded and threelined leafrollers). BODY LENGTH: Adult - 9.0 mm; Mature larva - 15.0 mm.