Archips xylosteana, the variegated golden tortrix or brown oak tortrix, is a moth of the family Tortricidae.
This Palearctic moth is widespread in most of Europe, in Asia (China, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Siberia, Turkey), and in northern Africa (Algeria).[1] [2]
This moth species inhabit woodland and scrub in hilly and mountainous areas. [3]
Archips xylosteana is a medium-sized to large moth with a wingspan reaching 14-.[4] The females are usually slightly larger than the males. The basic color of the fore wings varies from yellow-brown or ocher to pinkish brown, mottled with dark reddish brown markings. Forewings are broad and roughly rectangular. Hind wings are light grayish brown. [5] The design of the wings may appear lightly asymmetric, because at rest one of the wing covers the other[5] and hides part of it. The caterpillar varies from whitish gray to bluish with greenish reflections and have a black head. [5] Meyrick describes it - Forewings with termen sinuate, vertical, costal fold from base to 3/5, irregular ; ochreous more or less fuscous-tinged, paler towards costa ; a transverse dorsal spot near base, central fascia with anterior edge sinuate, costal patch broadly connected with it near costa, a blotch from above tornus sometimes connected with costal patch, and an apical spot dark ferruginous-brown. Hindwings grey, apexsometimes yellowish-tinged. Larva whitish-grey or pale greenish ; head black ;plate of 2 black, anterior edge white.[6] Julius von Kennel provides a full description. [7]
These moths fly from June to August in one generation.[5] [4] They rest during the day in the foliage of trees and shrubs. Their activity begins at dusk. [4] They overwinter on tree trunks and thick boughs.
Caterpillars grow protected in a rolled leaf, perpendicularly to the midrib, from April to June. These larvae are polyphagous, feeding on various shrubs and deciduous trees, [5] mainly oak (Quercus), elm (Ulmus), linden (Tilia), hazel (Corylus), maples (Acer), ash (Fraxinus, firs (Abies), brambles (Rubus), honeysuckle (Lonicera) and St John's worts (Hypericum)). [3] They can also be found on various fruit trees (apple, pear, etc.) [8] and on some herbaceous plants.