Litchi Fruit Moth
Common NameLitchi Fruit Moth
Scientific NameLobesia transtrifera
FamilyTortricidae
SubfamilyOlethreutinae
Wingspan (mm)10
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, orange, black
HabitatOrchards, agricultural areas, tropical and subtropical forests
Geographic RangeAsia (e.g., India, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan), Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Australia
Host PlantsLitchi chinensis (litchi), Dimocarpus longan (longan), Mangifera indica (mango), Nephelium lappaceum (rambutan)
Flight PeriodMultiple generations per year, active year-round in tropical climates
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are fruit borers, developing inside the fruits of various host plants, causing significant damage to crops. Pupation typically occurs within the fruit or in leaf litter.
Identification TipsLook for its small size and the characteristic cryptic forewing pattern, which includes a mix of brown, orange-brown, and darker, often metallic-sheened, markings. The overall appearance is somewhat rectangular when at rest.
Description
A small moth with mottled forewings displaying a complex pattern of brown, reddish-orange, and dark brown to blackish markings, often with a distinct dark band or patch.
