Rhopobota naevana

Distinguished from similar Olethreutinae by the combination of: metallic-grey ocellus edging; angulated basal patch edge; posterior median projection on central fascia; and male-specific black hindwing underside suffusion. The common name 'blackheaded fireworm' refers to the larva's dark head, useful for field identification of immatures on host plants.

Associated with ericaceous shrubs and rosaceous trees in temperate regions. Found in cultivated Vaccinium fields (cranberry, blueberry), heathlands with Erica, and woodland edges with Ilex, Crataegus, and Prunus.

Palearctic: Europe (including British Isles) to eastern Russia; China (Tianjin, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Tibet, Shaanxi, Gansu), Taiwan, Mongolia, Korea, Japan. Also India, Sri Lanka, and North America (including Maine and British Columbia).

Adults on wing from late June to early September. Univoltine or partially bivoltine depending on latitude.

Larvae feed on foliage and fruit of Vaccinium species (cranberry, blueberry), Erica carnea, Ilex, Malus, Crataegus, Sorbus, Prunus, Pyrus, and Rhamnus. Specific feeding sites include leaf rolling and tying on host plants.

• Vaccinium - larval food plantprimary economic host; significant pest of cultivated cranberry and blueberry
• Erica carnea - larval food plant
• Ilex - larval food plantsource of common name 'holly tortrix'
• Malus - larval food plant
• Crataegus - larval food plant
• Sorbus - larval food plant
• Prunus - larval food plant
• Pyrus - larval food plant
• Rhamnus - larval food plant

Holometabolous. Eggs laid on host plant foliage. Larvae develop through feeding on leaves and fruit, constructing shelters by rolling or tying leaves. Pupation occurs in larval shelters or soil. Adults emerge in summer. Overwintering stage not explicitly documented in sources.

Larvae are leaf tiers, constructing shelters by rolling or tying host plant leaves with silk. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to light.

Herbivore and agricultural pest. Population dynamics influenced by host plant availability and natural enemies including a species-specific granulosis virus. Serves as host for entomopathogenic viruses that may regulate populations in agroecosystems.

Significant economic pest of Vaccinium cultivation, particularly cranberries in British Columbia and blueberries in Maine. Damage includes defoliation and fruit injury. Subject of pest risk assessment for climate change scenarios in northern cultivation regions. Potential for biological control using identified granulosis virus.

• Other Rhopobota speciesSimilar size and wing pattern; require genitalia examination or larval host association for definitive identification.
• Other Olethreutinae with grey forewings and metallic markingsShared wing pattern elements; R. naevana distinguished by specific configuration of basal patch angulation and central fascia projection.

• pest
• agricultural
• Vaccinium
• leaf tier
• tortricid
• Palearctic
• Nearctic

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Identification of a Granulosis Virus Associated with Mortality in the Blackheaded Fireworm, Rhopobota naevana (Hübner) (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae)
• Assessing the potential spread of arthropod pests of wild and cultivated Vaccinium species in British Columbia using digitized occurrence records: the blackheaded fireworm Rhopobota naevana (Hübner, 1817) as an exemplar