South African carnation moth

Epichoristodes acerbella

1. Identification

• Common name: South African carnation moth
• Scientific name: Epichoristodes acerbella Walker
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Tortricidae

2. Pest description

• Caterpillars greenish-yellow in colour, with a brown head and an agile body.
• Small adults, with brownish forewings bearing irregular patterns; greyish hindwings.
• A leaf-rolling and shoot-boring species, with relevant impact on ornamentals, especially carnation.
• Caterpillars feed on young leaves, flower buds and shoots, producing rolls with silk threads.
• It can cause severe damage in greenhouses and ornamental production.

3. Main hosts

• Carnation.
• Other ornamental Caryophyllaceae.
• Nearby spontaneous herbaceous species.

4. Symptoms and damage

• Leaves rolled and bound together by silk threads.
• Borings in leaves, flower buds and shoots.
• Deformations and necrosis of young tissues.
• Reduction of the commercial quality of the flowers.
• Particularly serious damage in intensive production and greenhouses.

5. Biological cycle

• Eggs laid on the surface of the leaves or shoots.
• Caterpillars develop inside rolled leaves or on flower buds.
• Pupation occurs inside the rolled leaves or in silken shelters.
• Adults emerge throughout the year in protected environments.
• Several generations per year, favoured by mild temperatures.

6. Monitoring

• Direct observation of rolled leaves and caterpillars.
• Inspection of flower buds and young shoots.
• Pheromone traps to detect adults.
• Intensive monitoring in greenhouses and nurseries.

7. Management measures

• Cultural: removal of infested leaves and shoots; destruction of plant residues; adequate ventilation in greenhouses.
• Preventive: frequent monitoring; control of spontaneous host plants.
• Biological: application of Bacillus thuringiensis on young caterpillars; promotion of natural parasitoids.
• Integrated protection: judicious application of authorised insecticides based on thresholds; integration of cultural, biological and chemical measures.

Bibliographic references

• EPPO Global Database – Epichoristodes acerbella.
• CABI – Invasive Species Compendium – Epichoristodes acerbella.
• Alford, D. V. (2007). Pest and Disease Management Handbook. Blackwell Publishing.
• Hill, D. S. (1987). Agricultural Insect Pests of the Tropics and their Control. Cambridge University Press.