Description

Adult

Wingspan of 11-15 mm and a body length of ca. 6-7 mm. Forewings grey with a silvery sheen and small scattered dark spots. Hind wings are uniform grey with frayed margins.

Larvae

Final instars reach 7-8 mm in length. Body usually pale green with reddish brown markings dorsally. A pair of irregular brown to reddish-brown subdorsal lines. The prothoracic plate is pale green marked with reddish-brown. Crochets on abdominal prolegs are arranged in concentric circles.

Eggs

Ca. 0.5 x 0.4 mm in size. Initially white, becoming brown with age. Laid on calyx of flowers (first generation), developing fruit (second generation) & leaves (third generation).

Distribution

Southern Europe the Middle East and North Africa.

Economic Host(s)

Olive

Symptoms/Signs

The three different generations feed on different parts of their host. The first generation feed within buds and on the flowers. The second generation bore into the fruit to feed causing early fruit drop and the third generation mine leaves producing blotchy mines and weaving leaves together with silk.

Generations:

3