Description

Adult

Wingspan of 10-12 mm. Forewings grey-brown, darker on the lower edge and at the wing apex. Hindwings are narrow and uniformly grey-brown, smoky coloured at the tips.

Larvae

Colourless and very small when newly hatched. Final instars reach 6.5 mm in length. Body is pale brownishwhite with a darker head and prothoracic plate.

Eggs

Oval, semi translucent and ca. 0.15 x 0.20 mm in size. Laid singly or in small batches on flowers and buds.

Distribution

Europe, North Africa, South Africa, the Middle East, India and Oceania

Economic Host(s)

Citrus trees

Symptoms/Signs

Larvae bore into buds and young flowers to feed. damaged inflorescences dry up and die. Later generations feed on developing fruit, forming feeding galleries in the skin which can often be evident by exuding gum. Leaves are also eaten and become covered in silken threads.

Generations:

3-16 (climate dependent)