Cotoneaster Webworm – Anthrips rancidella

Cotoneaster Webworm   Scientific Name:  Athrips rancidella Common Name:  Cotoneaster webworm Appearance:  Cotoneaster webworm has a total wingspan of 12 mm, and is a dark grey, nocturnal moth. The wings have a mottled appearance along with two pairs of legs and a pair of antennae. The hind wings have a fringe on the lower margin s well. It also has a dark brown caterpillar-like larva of size 13 mm. Host Plants or Food: Cotoneaster webworm usually attacks the cotoneaster horizontalis or the rockspray cotoneaster plant. However, they have also been recorded on some blackthorn and hawthorn species. Territory: Throughout North America, Europe, Eastern USA, Western USA, Asia Mode of Damage: The larva of the cotoneaster webworm is a leaf chewer and mainly feeds on the lower epidermis of the leaves, resulting in browning and skeletonizing of the leaves. The adults web a few pieces of leaves together and feed inside it for protection from predators. Habits and Life History: Cotoneaster webworm is known for its silk tube or tent that it builds from the leaves. It webs together a few clumps of leaves to form a protective shell for itself. It may overwinter both as an egg as well as a larva. The females lay eggs in the spring, giving rise to a larva which feeds throughout the summer and fall. After the maturation of the larva, they pupate to emerge as an adult in the spring. The adult moths are nocturnal.