Description

Adult

Wingspan of 18-22 mm. Wings transparent with bluish-black scales along margins and main veins. Palpi are black, with white on the inner side in males. A wide red band is present on the fourth abdominal segment with rest of abdomen and thorax black.

Larvae

Pale yellow with a reddish tint. A reddish longitudinal line runs along the body dorsally. Head is reddish-brown and spiracles are black.

Eggs

Laid singly in crevices and cracks of trunks and thick branches.

Distribution

Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa

Economic Host(s)

Orchard fruit trees, in particular apple (Malus), pear (Pyrus), plum and cherry (Prunus).

Symptoms/Signs

Larvae feed on living tissue beneath the bark forming galleries between the bark and cambium layer. Larval feeding can prevent nutrient circulation within the tree causing scaling of bark, stunted growth and tree death. Before pupating larvae eject frass from an exit hole and pupal cases are left at entrance holes after exit.

Generations:

1