Choreutis pariana (Clerck) - Choreutidae
- Apple Leaf Skeletonizer
My daughter Abigail observed this moth on the outside rear door of my
house in St. Austell (SX 012 529) on the 10th November 2002 and J. GREGORY
confirmed identification. Its short jerky movements struck me as it crawled
up the woodwork and noted it was not a tortricoid moth although it bore
close resemblance. In Gt. Britain there are 6 species in this family of
moths. Up until 1997 according to county records, the moth has not been
seen in Cornwall since the Victoria County History (1906). However it
is shown to have occurred in VC2 (but not VC1) according to The Moths
and Butterflies of Gt. Britain & Ireland Vol.2. p. 398 where it is
stated to be 'widely distributed but very local.' The moth rarely if ever
comes to light but is found flying in sunshine. It is quite variable in
colour.
John Gregory reported to me earlier in the year that he had seen the
larvae of this moth feeding on Hawthorn in St. Austell at Tesco's Car
Park (SX 0352) on the 29th August 2002. The preferred food plant is wild
and cultivated Apple (Malus spp.). The description of the caterpillar
by J. Gregory is reproduced by kind permission.
'The larva in its final instar is dark greyish green with contrasting
black pinacula. It is light yellowish green on the back and pale grey
on the sides. The head is medium brown. The larva is found in May and
June and again in August and lives under a fine web where it grazes the
upper side of a leaf of wild or cultivated Apple, occasionally Hawthorn
(Crataegus spp.) skeletonizing the leaf without biting through
and leaving a veined, brown blotch. The cocoon is substantial, white in
colour and found at the feeding site. The moth emerges after a week to
10 days. There are two generations in a year, perhaps 3 in the south.
The autumn emergence over winters and females will mate in the spring.
The moth was introduced to N. America where it is also found on Apple
(Malus spp.).'
If you have apple trees in your garden you may care to look out for the
larvae in May, June and again in August. Occurring in numbers around particular
trees this moth can become a serious pest.
Finally I have included a photograph of the adult taken at my house.
Choreutis pariana (Clerck).
Apple Leaf Skeletonizer
St. Austell 10th November 2002.
Photo P. H. Boggis
Phil Boggis
(Assistant County Recorder).
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