Cryptophlebia ombrodelta

Cryptophlebia ombrodelta (Lower, 1898)
( previously known as: Arotrophora ombrodelta)
Macadamia Nutborer
GRAPHOLITINI , OLETHREUTINAE , TORTRICIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

(updated 6 July 2008)

This Caterpillar is a pest on a variety of cultivated trees, such as:

Orchid Trees ( Bauhinia species, CAESALPINIACEAE ),

Barbados Pride ( Caesalpinia pulcherrima, CAESALPINIACEAE ),

Poinciana ( Delonix regia, CAESALPINIACEAE ),

Tamarind ( Tamarindus indica, CAESALPINIACEAE ),

various Wattles ( Acacia species, MIMOSACEAE ),

Macadamia ( Macadamia integrifolia, PROTEACEAE ), and

Lychee ( Litchi chinensis, SAPINDACEAE ).

The Caterpillars penetrate the young fruit, and feed on the kernel inside.

The adult moths are brown, with a darker tip to each forewing. The females have a black triangular mark on hind edge of each forewing. The moths are active in the summer months.

The eggs of these species are white, round and flat, and have a diameter of about 1 mm. They are laid in small groups, up to 15, on the fruit.

The pheromones have been elucidated. Various methods of control have been proposed, including:

Mating Disruption,

Hot Water,

Irradiation,

Insecticides: triflumuron, carbaryl and azinphos-methyl,

Egg parasite Trichogramma cryptophlebiae ( TRICHOGRAMMATIDAE ),

Larval parasitoid Brachymeria pomonae ( CHALCIDIDAE ),

Larval parasitoid Brachon species ( BRACONIDAE ), and

Larval parasitoid Gotro bimaculata ( ICHNEUMONIDAE ).

The species occurs from India to the Philippines, including

China,