Cherry Bark Totrix – Enaemonia formosana

Cherry Bark Tortrix   Scientific Name:  Enarmonia formosana Common Name:  Cherry bark totrix, cherry bark moth Appearance:    Cherry bark totrix is a fascinating insect with colourful wings and a wingspan of 19 mm. The ochre-coloured forewings are intricately designed with black and yellow markings, while the hind wings are grey or black. The hindwings also have a white fringe on their margins. It has a rose-white or yellowish larva with a banded appearance on the dorsal side. Host Plants or Food:   Cherry bark totrix feeds on plants belonging to the Rosaceae family. This includes apples, cherries, hawthorns, plums, peaches, almonds and more. Territory: Throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Gulf states Mode of Damage:  They are basically stem and twig damagers Habits and Life History: Cherry bark totrix is commonly found in the bark of old, mature trees, which are more prone to injury and wounding. The female lays almost 90 white-coloured eggs, which turn pink as they mature. It takes them 2 to 3 weeks to hatch into the larva, which feeds on the tree bark. The larva keeps tunnelling into the bark as it grows and pupates in it throughout the winter season to emerge as an adult in the spring. One key factor in identifying a cherry bark tortix infestation is to look for reddish frass near the bark. There is usually only one generation a year.