Description

Adult

Wingspan of 13- 19 mm. Forewings brownish grey with numerous white markings. A subtriangular dark patch is present close to a poorly defined ocellus. Males have a patch of whitish-grey sex scales on dark brown hindwings.

Larvae

Late instars reach 14 mm in length. Abdomen is whitish with orange or red suffused longitudinal stripes. Pinacula are orange to red. Head is pale brown and prothoracic plate is reddish yellow. Anal combi is absent.

Eggs

Deposited on the base of the stigma on beech and on or near fruits on chestnut.

Distribution

Europe and east to Northern Iran and central Asia.

Economic Host(s)

Members of the tree family Fagaceae, including chestnut (Castanea), beech (Fagus) and oak (Quercus).

Symptoms/Signs

Larvae bore into fruits to feed on seeds.

Generations:

1