Identification and Diagnostic Characteristics of the Omnivorous Leafroller, Platynota stultana, Lepidoptera: Tortricidae.

Abstract

Description and life cycle of the invasive new pest known as the Omnivorous Leafroller, Platynota stultana.

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Identication and Diagnostic Characteristics
Adults: The front wing length of the male is 4.5-7.0 mm and
the front wing length of the female is 6.5-9.0 mm. The color of
the front wing is usually golden brown to dark brown (Fig. 1).
The wing color can vary greatly. Male front wings are gener-
ally dark brown nearest the thorax and golden brown on half
of the tip of the wing. The front wings on a female are more
uniform color and markings are usually less distinct. The
variegated leafroller, Platynota avendana, a common pest of
apple in southern Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, is
the eastern species most resembling the omnivorous lea-
froller, but it’s not very common outside orchards. The most
important eastern leafroller pest in this group is the tufted
apple bud moth, Platynota idaeusalis, that’s similar in size
and shape to the omnivorous leafroller, but is much darker
brown.
Larvae: Mature larvae are approximately 12-15 mm long and
translucent cream. The head and the top of the rst segment
of the thorax are yellowish brown to dark brown (Fig. 2). The
lateral rear margins of the top of the thorax are shaded with
dark brown on some individuals. This species has an anal
comb with 5-6 teeth.
Pupae: Fully developed pupae are dark brown and may be
4.0-9.8 mm long.
Similar Species
The omnivorous leafroller, Platynota stultana is similar to
other species in the genus Platynota that are found in the
eastern United States. Males can be separated from most
other Platynota by the absence of a well-developed ap or
fold at the base of the front wing that contains specialized
sex scales. A combination of front wing pattern and very long
labial palpi serves to separate P. stultana adults from other
tortricid species. The larval stage of the omnivorous leafroller
may appear similar to other tortricid larvae, including the light
brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana.
Life history
Platynota stultana is reported to complete 4-6 generations in
California. Adults may be present year round.
Eggs are laid in masses (Fig. 3) containing an average of 97
individual eggs. The green egg masses hatch in about a week
and the white hatched egg masses much easier to detect.
Newly hatched larvae move toward the top of the plant and
feed within a bud or between two leaves of a host plant. Young
larvae may also disperse to other hosts by ballooning in the
wind on a silk thread. Later instars (stage immediately after
molting) feed within a shelter constructed of rolled or folded
leaves (Fig. 4). It has been reported that in greenhouse condi-
tions larvae complete 5-6 instars in a period of 20-30 days
depending on the temperature. Third through fth instar larvae
of the last generation overwinter in webbed nests in ground
cover of the crop. Pupation takes place in a rolled leaf. Under
Pennsylvania weather conditions, we would expect no more
than 2-3 generations a year in the eld. In greenhouses the
number of generations produced would be higher.
PEST ALERT
Omnivorous Leafroller,
Platynota stultana
(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)
The omnivorous leafroller has recently been detected and conrmed in a greenhouse
in Pennsylvania. Your assistance is needed in monitoring for this pest both indoors and
outdoors in Pennsylvania.
Fig. 1 An adult female omnivorous leafroller.
Fig. 2 (top) Mature larva of the omnivorous leafroller. Fig. 3 (Left) Egg mass
of the omnivorous leafroller. Fig. 4 (right) Foliar damage caused by the larval
stage of the omnivorous leafroller.

Host plants
It has been reported as the omnivorous leafroller, P. stultana
expanded its range into northern California, it appears to have
greatly expanded its host plant range onto a wide variety of
non-native plants.
The following is a partial host plant list for the omnivorous
leafroller. Please note that P. stultana has been recorded on
other plant families (on at least 28) some of which are not
listed below: Albizia sp., alfalfa (Medicago sativa), amaranth
(Amaranthus sp.), apple (Malus sp.), Arachis sp., Aster sp., as-
paragus (Asperagus ofcinalis), avocado (Persea americana),
beans (Phaseolus sp.), blackberry and raspberry (Rubus
spp.), blackeyed pea (Vigna unguiculata), carnation (Dianthus
caryophyllus), celery (Apium graveolens), clover (Trifolium sp.),
sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), corn (Zea mays), Cotoneaster spp.,
cotton (Gossypium sp.), currant (Ribes spp.), Cyclamen spp.,
daisy (Chrysanthemum spp.), Eucalyptus spp., Gardenia spp.,
geranium (Pelargonium spp.), Ginkgo spp., grape (Vitis spp.),
grapefruit (Citrus spp.), grasses (various Poaceae), groundsel
(Packera spp.), juniper (Juniperus spp.), lambsquarters (Che-
nopodium album), lemon (Citrus x limon), lettuce (Latusca
sp.), mallow (Malva spp.), mandarin (Citrus spp.), mint (Men-
tha sp.), navel orange (Citrus sp.), peach (Prunus persica),
peanut (Arachis sp.), pear (Pyrus spp.), pepper (Capsicum
spp.), pine (Pinus spp.), ragweed (Ambrosia spp.), rose (Rosa
spp.), rose moss (Portulaca grandiora), shaddock (Citrus
maxima), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), soybean (Glycine
max), spiny ddlewood (Citharexylum spinosum), strawberry,
(Fragaria sp.), tara vine (Actinidia arguta), tomato (Solanum
lycopersicum), walnut (husks) (Juglans regia), and yew (Taxus
spp.). Consult the reference below (Gilligan and Epstein 2012)
for a more extensive list of host plants.
This omnivorous leafroller can be a serious pest of green-
house plants and vineyards. Major economically important
hosts include alfalfa, Citrus sp., corn, cotton, grape, peach,
pear, and pepper. Feeding damage to grape leads to bunch-
rot, resulting in crop losses as high as 25-80%.
Distribution
The omnivorous leafroller is known from Mexico. It has been
recorded from California, Arizona, Hawaii, Texas, Florida, and
Pennsylvania. Records from the eastern United States in
Washington, D. C. and Virginia were conrmed in the 1930s.
Taxonomy
Current valid scientic name: Platynota stultana
Walsingham
Common names: omnivorous leafroller
Synonyms: Sparganothis chiquitana, Sparganothis stultana,
Platynota chiquitana
Reporting a Possible Detection
If you believe you may have observed damage or a life stage
of the omnivorous leafroller, please contact a plant inspector
in your regional ofce of the Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture Regional Ofce (http://goo.gl/wd8Sg9) or an
extension educator in the local Penn State Extension ofce
(http://extension.psu.edu/counties).
Selected References
AliNiazee, M. T. and E. M. Stafford. 1972. Notes on the biology, ecology, and
damage of Platynota stultana on grapes. J. Econ. Entomol. 65: 1042-1044.
Atkins, E. L., M. H. Frost, L. D. Anderson and A. S. Deal. 1957. The omnivorous
leaf roller, Platynota stultana Wlshm., on cotton in California: nomenclature,
life history, and bionomics (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc.
Amer. 50: 251-259.
Crop Protection Compendium. 2007 Edition. CAB International, Wallingford,
UK, 2007.
Gilligan, T. M. and M. E. Epstein. 2012. TortAI, tortricids of agricultural im-
portance. interactive keys developed in Lucid 3.4., Last updated April 2012.
http://idtools.org/id/leps/tortai/Platynota_stultana.htm
Powell, J. A. 1983. Expanding geographical and ecological range of Platynota
stultana in California (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Pan-Pacic Entomol. 59:
233-239.
Powell, J. A. 2012. Moths of North America, Fasc. 8.1, Sparganothini and Atte-
riini, Wedge Entomol. Res. Foundation, Bakerseld, CA, 239 pp.
Photo Credits
Figures 1-4 used with permission from University of California
Statewide IPM Program.
Authors
This pest alert was written by Gregory A. Hoover, Ornamental
Extension Entomologist, and David J. Biddinger, Tree Fruit Re-
search Entomologist, Dept. of Entomology, Pennsylvania State
University, University Park, PA. June 2014