Mosaic Sparganothis Moth
Common NameMosaic Sparganothis Moth
Scientific NameSparganothis sulfureana
FamilyTortricidae
SubfamilyTortricinae
Wingspan (mm)20
Primary Colorslight brown, dark brown, tan
HabitatGardens, orchards, fields, woodlands, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from Canada south to Florida and west to Texas and the Great Plains
Host Plantsapple, blueberry, cranberry, grape, oak, maple, willow, clover, alfalfa, corn
Flight PeriodMay to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesOverwinters as a larva in a silken hibernaculum. Larvae are polyphagous, feeding on a wide variety of plants, often tying leaves together. Pupation occurs in a silken cocoon within folded leaves, with multiple generations per year.
Identification TipsKey features include its relatively broad, somewhat rectangular forewings with a yellowish to light brown ground color and variable, often diffuse, darker brown mosaic-like markings. It is a common and highly variable species.
Description
A small moth with light brown to yellowish-brown forewings featuring variable, diffuse darker brown markings that create a mottled or mosaic-like pattern. Its antennae are slender and its body is concolorous with the wings.
