Ancylis tineana

(Hübner, [1799])

  • Subfamily: Olethreutinae, Enarmoniini
  • Wingspan: 11-15 mm
  • Flight period: Apr - Aug
  • Spread: Uncommon
  • Host plants: Polyphagous

Information

The Ancylis tineana also called Rannoch Roller is a moth of the Tortricidae family, subfamily Olethreutinae, with a wingspan of 11-15 mm.
Distributed in Europe in many countries, with the exception of Portugal, Spain, France, Ireland, Croatia, Greece, Bulgaria and Ukraine; with uncertain data from the trans-Caucasian area to Siberia and the southern part of eastern Russia *; also reported in North America. In Italy it is absent from the islands. *

The front wings of the Ancylis tineana are strongly falcate (curved in the shape of a sickle), with a whitish background color, almost entirely covered with dark gray, with leaden streaks often contiguous, the basal and sub-basal bands are indeterminate, the median band is poorly defined usually indicated by a dark linear stripe, sometimes tinged with a rust color, which extends from the costa to the sub-apical area.
A white sub-orbicular spot is clearly visible, streaked with a darker color, apexes suffused with gray, sometimes in a rust color, a pale gray basal line is visible along the Termen. ***

The hind wings are light gray with light fringes and a darker basal subline. ***
The head has quite long dark gray / brown palps, as well as the head itself. Chest and abdomen are the same color. **

This species has no sexual dimorphism. In Europe, there are two annual generations. Moths of the first generation fly in April and May, those of the second in July and August.
The larvae live among the leaves joined by silk threads of the host plant, in June and July. They pupate in June or July. The larvae of the next generation are found in September and October.

They overwinter until the following spring, in a hibernacle (place / dwelling chosen for wintering), which they build by turning the left and right edges of a leaf together, in such a way that they form an accurate pod, slightly swollen and folded along the central rib. They pupate in April or May, usually inside the hibernacle itself. ***

The larva of the Ancylis tineana is 10-11 mm long; the head is yellowish brown; prothoracic plate pale yellow or brown, vaulted in green; the abdomen ranges from light greenish gray to brownish gray; after hibernation the larvae have a sort of dark brown or blackish "cap" on the head. **. ***

The pupa measures 5-6 mm in length; brown color stays in a white silk cocoon in the larval dwelling. ** The host plants are: Malus sp. (apple tree), Pyrus sp. (pear), Crataegus (hawthorn), Prunus spinosa (blackthorn), Prunus domestica (plum), Betula sp. (birch), Populus tremula (poplar) and Cotoneaster sp .. ***, ****


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Bestimmungshilfe für die in Europa nachgewiesenen Schmetterlingsarten - http://lepiforum.de/
*** Pasquale Trematerra - Luca Mazzon, Danni da Ancylis tineana (Hübner) (Lepidoptera Tortricidae) su Cotoneaster sp. in Italia settentrionale, Informatore fitopatologico, n.4 2006
**** Plant Parasites of Europe leafminers, galls and fungi - https://bladmineerders.nl/

Ancylis tineana
Ancylis tineana
Ancylis tineana
Ancylis tineana
Ancylis tineana
Ancylis tineana
Ancylis tineana
Ancylis tineana