Tortrix viridana

The green oak tortrix, Tortrix viridana, also known as the European oak leafroller and the green oak moth is a distinctive green moth whose larvae feed on tree leaves, especially oak.

Eggs
Larva
Pupa

Tortrix viridana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Tortricidae
Genus: Tortrix
Species:
T. viridana
Binomial name
Tortrix viridana
Synonyms
  • Phalaena (Tortrix) viridana Linnaeus, 1758
  • Tortrix coeruleana Sorhagen, 1881[1]
  • Tortrix viridana f. flavana Zincken, in Charpentier, 1821
  • Tortrix viridana f. pflegeriana Vlach, 1942
  • Tortrix suttneriana [Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775[1]

An infestation of the larvae can defoliate an oak tree. The adult female lays its eggs next to leaf buds, which the larvae consume when they emerge. As the larvae grow bigger they eat larger leaves, and then roll themselves up in a full-sized leaf to pupate.

Larvae occur from April to June; adults are on wing in June and July.[1]

The Ichneumon wasp Dirophanes invisor is a parasitoid which specializes on T. viridana.

They are commonly found in many parts of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.[2]

References
  1. Razowski, Józef (2001). Die Tortriciden (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) Mitteleuropas : Bestimmung, Verbreitung, Flugstandort, Lebensweise der Raupen (in German) (1st ed.). Frantǐsek Slamka. pp. 11, 30. ISBN 80-967540-7-6.
  2. Green oak tortrix (Tortrix viridana) up NatureSpot


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