Strawberry tortrix

The Celypha lacunana, commonly known as the strawberry tortrix, is a species of moth belonging to the order Lepidoptera and the family Tortricidae. It is a highly adaptable insect distributed throughout the Palearctic region, often found in gardens, orchards, and agricultural fields where it exploits a wide variety of plant hosts.

This pest is a generalist (polyphagous), meaning it feeds on a vast array of crops. Its primary hosts include strawberries, raspberries, currants, and various fruit trees like apples and pears. Additionally, it thrives on numerous weed species, such as nettles and mugwort, which act as primary reservoirs for early-season population build-up.

The life cycle of this pest typically involves two generations per year. It overwinters as a late-instar larva, usually hidden within rolled or dead leaves webbed to plant stems. In spring, larvae resume feeding, pupate, and emerge as adults. These moths then lay eggs on the undersides of leaves, beginning the cycle for the next generation.

Damage is primarily caused by larvae, which tie leaves together with silk and feed from within these protective enclosures. When infestations are heavy, they can cause severe leaf skeletonization, destroy flower buds, and damage developing fruit. This loss of foliage reduces the plant's photosynthetic capacity, ultimately leading to stunted growth and yield loss.

Management requires an integrated approach. Effective strategies include:

• Regular weeding to reduce host plant availability.
• Manual removal and destruction of infested leaf clusters in small gardens.
• Monitoring with pheromone traps to time insecticide applications.
• Applying selective insecticides or biological agents like Bt-based products during the early larval stages.