Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick)

Gilligan, Todd M., Brown, John W. & Hoddle, Mark S., 2011, A new avocado pest in Central America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) with a key to Lepidoptera larvae threatening avocados in California, Zootaxa 3137, pp. 31-45 : 41-42

Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) ( Tortricidae : Olethreutinae )

The false codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta , is a native of sub-Saharan Africa. This polyphagous species is a serious pest of citrus and cotton and has been recorded from more than 50 plant species in over 30 families ( Brown et al. 2008, van der Geest et al. 1991). In South Africa, T. leucotreta is considered the most significant Lepidoptera pest of avocado ( Erichsen and Schoeman 1994). Larvae cause direct damage by tunneling in the fruit just beneath the skin, and larval feeding often results in secondary damage caused by bacteria and fungi ( Erichsen and Schoeman 1994).

Thaumatotibia leucotreta is not established in California; however, a single male was collected in a pheromone trap in Ventura County in July, 2008 ( Gilligan et al. 2011). This species is one of the most commonly intercepted tortricids on pepper ( Solanaceae : Capsicum annuum L.) and eggplant ( Solanaceae : Solanum melongena L.) at U.S. ports-of-entry ( Brown 2006, Gilligan et al. 2011).