Epiphyas Turner, 1927 (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)

The non-native "light brown apple moth," Epiphyas postvittana, is the only known species of Epiphyas in Hawaii. It is one of five genera (Spheterista, Epiphyas, Eccoptocera, Strepsicrates, Epinotia) where the males have a costal fold along the forewing (rather slight in this species). Color patterns are highly variable from strongly marked to nearly uniform tan in color. This species is most likely to be confused with Amorbia emigratella, which does not have ocelli, (whereas Epiphyas does have ocelli).

	Epiphyas postvittana (Walker, 1863) Islands: Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, Hawaii Hostplants: Acacia, Citrus, Chamaesyce Cucurbita, Dodonaeae, Pipturus, Rubus, Ulex, Santalum, Vaccineum, Wikstroemia, Wilkesia, ... Status: Immigrant Comments: Leafroller. This cosmopolitan pest feeds on many genera in several families of plants. It is parasitzed by several wasps (Bracon, Brachymeria, Pristomerus, Trichogramma, et al.).

Reference(s):

Walsingham L. 1907. Microlepidoptera. in Sharp D. (ed.) Fauna Hawaiiensis. Volume I, Part V. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. pp. 469-759 (specifically 690 & 736).

Zimmerman EC. 1978. Insects of Hawaii, Vol.9.1 Microlepidoptera. The University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu. pp. 397-643

Additional images of Epiphyas postvittana: