- Unknown distribution. Recorded from Papua province (Irian Jaya), Indonesia and Fiji. Only found on Malay (rose) apple.
- Damage done by larvae mining the leaves, often between the veins, causing them to shrivel and die. Only a few leaves affected on any one tree.
- Adults are small moths with distinctive white semi-circular spots on forewings; hindwings fringed. Antennae longer than body.
- Spread occurs in the wing and via the trade in plants.
- Cultural control: squash larvae in tunnels between finger and thumb; removed infested leaves and burn.
- Chemical control: possibly needed in nurseries. Use systemic imidacloprid, or synthetic pyrethroid.
Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition
Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides
Malay (rose) apple leafminer (371)
Click/tap on images to enlarge
Summary
Common Name
Malay (or rose) apple leafminer; there is no accepted common name for this leafminer blotch moth.
Scientific Name
Acrocercops patellata. It is a moth of the Gracillariidae.
AUTHORS Grahame Jackson & Mani Mua
Information from van Haren MM (undated) The leaf blotch miner moths (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae: Gracillariinae) of Papua Indonesia. (https://www.papua-insects.nl/insect%20orders/Lepidoptera/Gracillariidae/Acrocercops/Acrocercops%20patellata.htm).
Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project HORT/2016/185: Responding to emerging pest and disease threats to horticulture in the Pacific islands, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
