Cydia splendana (Hübner, 1799) Species
Last modified: Dec. 19, 2023, 4:48 p.m.
A common species throughout Belgium.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Tortricidae > Subfamily: Olethreutinae > Tribus: Grapholitini > Genus: Cydia > Species: Cydia splendana
- Vernacular names
- Gewone spiegelmot (NL), Chestnut Tortrix, Marbled Piercer (EN), Carpocapse des châtaignes (FR), Später Kastanienwickler (DE)
- First mention in Belgium
- De Sélys-Longchamps E. 1844. Énumération des insectes Lépidoptères de la Belgique. — Mémoires de la Société royale des Sciences de Liége 2: 1–35. On page 21.
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan 12–16 mm. A very variable species with the forewings white, cream, brown or light grey to grey and it is irrorate with pale-tipped scales giving a farinose effect. Melanic variants are common. The distal one-third of the wing is marked with a dark-brown to black subtriangular patch that surrounds the purplish ocellus. Hindwings are dark greyish brown.
Museum specimens
No pictures yet!Specimens in nature
Caterpillar
Greyish body, pinacula whitish, light brown head with prothoracic and anal plates yellowish.
Bionomics
The caterpillar lives inside the fruit of trees. A single fruit generally supports one larva. When the fruit falls to the ground, it leaves it and spins a cocoon in the soil, in which it overwinters full-fed.
The adults fly at dusk and come to light.
Flight periods
The adults fly usually from mid-May till mid-September, sometimes till mid-October.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Castanea sativa
- Host plant (genera):
- Quercus
The caterpillar lives inside the fruit of Quercus robur, Quercus sp. and Castanea sativa*.
Habitat
It inhabits parks, gardens, heathland en deciduous woodland where oak or sweet chestnut occurs.
