Strawberry moth

Acleris comariana

1. Identification

• Common name: Strawberry tortrix moth
• Scientific name: Acleris comariana Lienig & Zeller
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Tortricidae

2. Pest description

• Greenish-yellow caterpillars, with a brown head, reaching 10–12 mm.
• Small adults, with brown to greyish forewings, displaying variable patterns; wingspan of 12–16 mm.
• Caterpillars feed inside leaves folded or joined by silken threads.
• Species associated mainly with strawberry and other creeping rosaceous plants.

3. Main hosts

• Strawberry.
• Other species of the genus Fragaria spp.
• Spontaneous species of creeping rosaceous plants.

4. Symptoms and damage

• Folded or rolled leaves, joined by silk, containing caterpillars inside.
• Perforations and consumption of leaf tissue, reducing the photosynthetic area.
• Damage to flowers and young fruits, which can compromise production.
• Reduction of plant vigour in intense attacks.

5. Biological cycle

• Eggs laid singly or in small groups on the underside of the leaves.
• Caterpillars develop over 2–3 weeks, feeding protected inside the folded leaves.
• Pupation occurs within the leaf shelters or in the surrounding vegetation.
• Adults emerge in spring and summer; generally two generations per year, which may vary with the climate.

6. Monitoring

• Observation of folded leaves and the presence of caterpillars inside.
• Assessment of damage to leaves, flowers and young fruits.
• Pheromone traps for the detection of adults and tracking of flights.
• Frequent monitoring during periods of greater crop sensitivity.

7. Management measures

• Cultural: removal of heavily attacked leaves and destruction of initial outbreaks.
• Preventive: regular monitoring of plantations and elimination of spontaneous host plants.
• Biological: application of Bacillus thuringiensis in the young stages of the caterpillars.
• Integrated protection: definition of intervention thresholds, judicious use of authorised insecticides and synchronisation with the flight peaks detected by traps.

Bibliographic references

• CABI – Invasive Species Compendium – Acleris comariana.
• EPPO Global Database – Acleris comariana.
• Alford, D. V. (2007). Pest and Disease Management Handbook. Blackwell Publishing.
• Cross, J. V. et al. (1999). Biology and control of the strawberry tortricid. Crop Protection, 18, 651–657.
• Witzgall, P. et al. (2010). Tortricid pests in berry crops: monitoring and management. IOBC/WPRS Bulletin, 54, 23–30.