The Brindled Tortrix is a small moth with dark, rusty-washed forewings crossed by shiny, lead-colored lines. It lives across Europe and temperate Asia, including Japan, and isn't found in the United States. It's also called Leche's twist.
Appearance
- Appearance
- Wingspan about ⅝–¾ in (16–20 mm). The forewing is dark brown, heavily dusted with rusty orange, with leaden metallic lines outlining the central band. The hindwings are blackish gray.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- woodland
- orchards
- Range
- Widespread across Eurasia, including Europe, Korea, and Japan. It isn't part of the North American moth fauna.
- Preferred conditions
- In Britain, it also turns up in parks, hedgerows, and gardens.
Behavior
- Activity
- In Britain, adults fly from late afternoon into the evening and come to lights.
- Overwintering
- Overwinters as a tiny caterpillar in a silk shelter on a twig.
Life cycle
- Larva
- The caterpillar is light green, darker on the back, with a pale brown head. It first feeds inside buds, then in leaves it spins together or rolls up.
- Caterpillar food plants
- Many broadleaf trees and shrubs, such as oaks, apple, poplars, willows, maples, and birches, plus larch.
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