Homona coffearia

Homona coffearia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Tortricidae
Genus: Homona
Species: H. coffearia
Binomial name
Homona coffearia
(Nietner, 1861)
Synonyms
  • Tortrix coffearia Nietner, 1861
  • Homona euryptera Diakonoff, 1941
  • Homona fasciculana Walker, 1863
  • Tortrix fimbriana Walker, 1869
  • Pandemis menciana Walker, 1863
  • Godana nubiferana Walker, 1866
  • Homona picrostacta Meyrick, 1921
  • Godana simulana Walker, 1866
  • Homona socialis Meyrick, 1912
  • Homona stenoptera Diakonoff, 1941

The Tea Tortrix or Camellia Tortrix (Homona coffearia) is a moth of the Tortricidae family. It is widely distributed in the Oriental region.[1]

The wingspan is 16–20 mm for males and about 23 mm for females. The ground colour of the forewings in males is greyish brown, with brown markings and a darker spot at the costa. The hindwings are dark fuscous. In females, the forewings are pale-brown, almost without distinct markings. Adults are on wing between December and April in Sri Lanka.[2] There are two generations per year in China with adults appearing in late May.

The larvae feed on Acacia auriculiformis, Arachis hypogaea, Bauhinia, Cajanus indicus, Calophyllum inophyllum, Camellia sinensis, Cinnamomun, Citrus, Coffea, Crotalaria, Derris, Eucalyptus alba, Eugenia polyantha, Glochidion, Gossypium, Linum, Melochia indica, Nephelium, Pluchea indica and Pyrus. Newly hatched larvae mostly move upwards to the growing points of their host plant and begin feeding. From the second to the fifth and final instar, they make nests by webbing two or more leaves together. A single larva usually makes several nests. Pupation takes place within the final nest.

References