Description

Adult

Wingspan of 6-7 mm. Forewings are lanceolate shaped, greyish-white and shiny with a brownish stripe surrounded by coppery areas intermixed with black and white. Hind wings are pale grey and strongly fringed. Both sexes have antennae with 27 segments.

Larvae

First instars are pale green, legless and 2 mm in length. Final instars are yellow to pale brown, ca. 3-4 mm long. Head is small, brown and sunken into thorax.

Eggs

Oval, ca. 0.3 x 0.23 mm in size, initially white and becoming grey with age.

Distribution

Europe, the Middle East and China

Economic Host(s)

Primarily apple (Malus) but also other fruit trees including pear (Pyrus), plum, peach and apricot (Prunus).

Symptoms/Signs

Larvae form mines on the upper surface of leaves. Circular mines begin as small and whitish and become larger with brown spots. Frass may be visible as dark circles.

Generations:

1-5