Stem borer (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Chelone

Record Details

Record no.:	0144
Feeding guild:	Stem borer
Taxonomy:	Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Cochylini: cf. Cochylichroa viscana
Stages observed:	trace, larva, pupa, adult
Hosts in Chelone:	C. glabra (turtlehead)

Larvae overwinter in dead stems and spin thin, cellophane-like cocoons. The pupa is thrust through the wall of the stem upon the adult's emergence in spring. The moth is a beautiful maroon color, and K. Johnson tentatively identified one I reared as Cochylini from photos (pers. comm.).

In the 20th century, M. Glenn reared Cochylichroa viscana from C. glabra in Illinois (Godfrey et al. 1987), and a quick review of images of that species on MPG (Moth Photographers Group 2026) shows a very strong resemblance to the adults I reared. Glenn's rearing of C. viscana was from "flowers and seeds" of turtlehead (ibid.), and my observations from the current study suggest a different species of Cochylichroa (as tentatively identified) on Ageratina may migrate from the flowers or fruits to the stems of that plant, or different individuals may inhabit either the reproductive parts or the stems of the plant (record 0028) - so perhaps the same is true for C. viscana on Chelone.

Featured Images

[?] Top

pale tan immature stage, elongate, with light brown spots on abdominal segments and a brown head — Image #: 144-01 Larva.

head is dark brown and oval — Image #: 144-02 Head of larva.

the cocoon is shaped like an elongate papery bag with blunt ends and it fits neatly in the hollow in the stem interior — Image #: 144-06 Larva's cocoon in stem.

the pale body, brown abdominal spots, and dark head capsule of the larva are visible through the thin wall of the cocoon when the split-open stem section is lit from behind — Image #: 144-07 Cocoon, backlit, showing larva inside.

small triangular moth with creamy whitish and bright reddish-purple colors on folded forewing — Image #: 144-03 Adult, lateral.

the shell-like exuviae project from holes in the smooth, brown dead stem — Image #: 144-04 Pupal exuviae of two emerged adults protruding from stem.

there is a split in the anterior end of the exuviae where the adult moth emerged from it — Image #: 144-05 Pupal exuviae.

References

[?] Top

Godfrey, G.L., Cashatt, E.D., and M. Glenn. 1987. Microlepidoptera from the Sandy Creek and Illinois River region: an annotated checklist of the suborders Dacnonypha, Monotrysia and Ditrysia (in part) (Insecta). Illinois Natural History Survey, Special Publication 7.[return to in-text citation]
Moth Photographers Group. 2026. Cochylichroa viscana (Kearfott, 1907). Retrieved February 1, 2026 from https://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=3783.[return to in-text citation]

Page created: February 1, 2026. Last update: February 27, 2026