Apotomis betuletana is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in most of Europe. It is also found in the eastern part of the Palearctic realm. The habitat consists of woods and woodland margins where birch occurs.

Apotomis betuletana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Tortricidae
Genus: Apotomis
Species:
A. betuletana
Binomial name
Apotomis betuletana
(Haworth, 1811)[1]
Synonyms
  • Tortrix betuletana Haworth, 1811
  • Apotomis betulaetana Stephens, 1852
  • Penthina leucomelana Guenee, 1845

The wingspan is 16–20 mm. The forewings are white, sometimes partly ochreous - tinged, with some grey striae posteriorly. The basal patch and central fascia are dark brown, black -marked, the included space dark ashy-fuscous, all slightly whitish sprinkled, on fold sometimes more mixed with white. The posterior edge of fascia is nearly straight, followed in middle by a faint pinkish-ochreous tinge. Hindwings grey, darker posteriorly. The larva is green, incisions yellowish; dorsal and subdorsal lines grey-green; tubercular spots yellow; head yellow-green; plate of 2 pale green.[2] Julius von Kennel provides a full description.[3]

Adults are on wing from July to September.[4]

The larvae feed on Betula species. They spin and roll the leaves of their host plant. The larvae can be found from May to June. Pupation takes place in the larval habitation or among leaf-litter on the ground. It hibernates in the egg stage.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ Fauna Europaea
  2. ^ Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description
  3. ^ Julius von Kennel, 1921, The Palaearktischen Tortriciden, eine monographische Darstellung. Stuttgart: E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung. 742 pp. - Palaearctic Tortricidae, a monograph.pdf at Zobodat 374
  4. ^ UKmoths
  5. ^ Lepidoptera of Belgium Archived February 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine