Blastobasis glandulella

(Riley, 1871)

Acorn Moth

A small native to eastern North America that has become in Europe and Ukraine. are active from spring through late summer. Larvae develop inside acorns and chestnuts, completing their entire within the nut. The is considered a potential forestry pest due to its seed- habit.

Blastobasis glandulella by (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda. Used under a CC-BY license.Blastobasis glandulella by (c) Annika Lindqvist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Annika Lindqvist. Used under a CC-BY license.Blastobasis glandulella by (c) Peter Chen 2.0, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Peter Chen 2.0. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Blastobasis glandulella: //ˌblæstəˈbeɪsɪs ˌɡlændjuˈlɛlə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Wingspan 15–25 mm. Diagnostic features of , larva, and pupa have been illustrated in taxonomic literature (see Ukrainian study). Distinguished from similar Blastobasis by association with acorn and confirmed by genitalia examination.

Images

Habitat

Deciduous forests with oak (Quercus) presence. Larvae occur inside acorns on the soil surface and in forest litter.

Distribution

Native to eastern United States and southern Ontario, Canada; also recorded in California. Introduced and established in Europe: Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, Slovakia, Croatia, Belgium, and Ukraine (seven regions: Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Poltava, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy).

Seasonality

on wing April through September. In Ukraine, begins late May to early June and continues through early August.

Diet

Larvae feed inside acorns of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) and chestnuts.

Host Associations

  • Quercus robur - larval - acornspedunculate oak
  • Castanea - larval chestnuts (reported)

Life Cycle

and larval development occurs inside acorns. Larvae overwinter inside acorns on soil surface or in forest litter. takes place inside acorns. emerge late spring through summer.

Ecological Role

Seed ; potentially damaging to oak recruitment and forestry operations.

Human Relevance

Considered a potential forestry pest in invaded regions. 'acorn ' is shared with European tortrix Cydia splendana, causing potential confusion.

Similar Taxa

  • Cydia splendanaShares 'acorn '; European tortrix moth with different (Tortricidae) and
  • Other Blastobasis speciesRequire genitalia examination and association data for reliable identification

Sources and further reading