Light Brown Apple Moth
Common NameLight Brown Apple Moth
Scientific NameEpiphyas postvittana
FamilyTortricidae
SubfamilyTortricinae
Wingspan (mm)22
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsbrown, yellowish-brown, dark brown
HabitatOrchards, nurseries, gardens, agricultural areas, forests, urban environments
Geographic RangeNative to Australia; invasive in New Zealand, Europe, North America (e.g., California, Hawaii), and other parts of the world
Host Plantsapple, pear, citrus, grape, rose, oak, willow, many ornamental plants
Flight PeriodYear-round in warmer climates; spring to autumn in temperate regions (multiple generations)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in overlapping masses on leaves. Larvae are green or yellowish-green, feeding within leaves rolled together with silk, where they also pupate. Adults are nocturnal.
Identification TipsKey features include the characteristic diagonal dark bands on the forewings, particularly a prominent one extending from the costa to the tornus. Its resting posture is typically flat against a surface.
Description
This small to medium-sized moth has forewings that are typically light brown to reddish-brown, featuring distinct darker diagonal bands and mottled patterns, often with a paler band across the middle.
