Apple Fruit Moth
Common NameApple Fruit Moth
Scientific NameArgyresthia conjugella
FamilyArgyresthiidae
SubfamilyN/A
Wingspan (mm)10
Primary Colorswhite, black, brown
HabitatOrchards, woodlands, gardens, areas with host plants
Geographic RangeEurope, Asia, North America (introduced)
Host Plantsapple, rowan, hawthorn, pear, plum, cherry
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on developing fruit or leaves. Larvae bore into the fruit, feeding on the pulp and seeds, then drop to the ground to pupate in the soil. Typically one generation per year.
Identification TipsKey features include its small size, the unique head-down, tail-up resting posture, and the mottled pattern of white and dark brown/black on its forewings.
Description
A small moth characterized by its distinctive resting posture, with its head pointed downwards and the posterior end of its body raised. Its forewings are mottled with irregular patches of white, dark brown, and greyish-black.
