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National Moth Week was July 19-27, and the Summer 2025 gathering in Louisiana, July 19-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Species Platynota stultana - Omnivorous Leaf-roller - Hodges#3736

Rusty Colored Moth - Platynota stultana - female

Platynota flavedana - Black-shaded Platynota Moth - Platynota stultana - male

Which moth is this? - Platynota stultana - male

Worn moth to blacklite - Platynota stultana - male

Tortricinae (?) - Platynota stultana - female

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Tortricoidea (Tortricid Moths)

Family Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)

Subfamily Tortricinae

Tribe Sparganothini

Genus Platynota

Species stultana (Omnivorous Leaf-roller - Hodges#3736)

Hodges Number

3736

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Platynota stultana Walsingham, 1884 (1)

Explanation of Names

Specific epithet from Latin stultus meaning "foolish, stupid, ill-considered," likely for its "very long palpi." (1)

Size

Male forewing length 4-6 mm, female FWL 6.5-7 mm. (2)

Identification

♂ ♀

Larvae - mature larvae are translucent, cream colored, and approximately 12-15mm long. The head and prothoracic shield are yellowish brown to dark brown.

Pupae - Fully developed pupae are dark brown and range in size from 4.0-9.8mm long.

Range

Texas to California, Florida and the Atlantic states. South into Mexico. (2), (1)

Probably native to Arizona but introduced to southern California in shipments of peppers from western Mexico. Range has expanded to Sacramento Valley, San Francisco greenhouses and urban environments. Later Texas, Florida, and the Atlantic states. (2)

Season

Year round in southern California and August to October farther north. (2)

Food

Numerous larval hosts including conifers and monocots. (2)

Remarks

BOLD:AAB6120 (CA, FL)

BOLD:AAC5877 (CA)

Print References

Powell, J.A. 1978. Survey of Lepidoptera inhabiting three dune systems in the California desert. BLM California Desert Plan. p.6. (3)

Walsingham, Lord. 1884. X. North American Tortricidae. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, 1884: 127 (1)

Internet References

Moth Photographers Group

LBAM fact sheet (4)

Lord Walsingham (1843-1919)

Works Cited

1.	X. North American Tortricidae. Lord Walsingham. 1884. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, 1884: 121-147.

2.	Moths of Western North America Powell and Opler. 2009. UC Press.

3.	Survey of Lepidoptera inhabiting three dune systems in the California Desert. J. A. Powell. 1978. U. S. Bureau of Land Management .

4.	LBAM ID - tools for diagnosing light brown apple moth and related western U.S. leafrollers - Epiphyas postvittana (Walker).

Contributed by john and jane balaban on 28 August, 2006 - 6:17pm
Additional contributions by Maury Heiman, Randy Hardy, Blocky
Last updated 13 January, 2022 - 3:14am

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