Pest Profile

Photo credit: BOLD Systmes; Bio Photography Group/CNC, Centre for Biodiversty CreativeCommons - Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike (2013)

Common Name: Resplendent Shield Bearer

Scientific Name: Coptodisca splendoriferella (Clemens)

Order and Family: ;

Size and Appearance: Length (mm) Appearance Egg  Eggs are placed inside the twigs of the host plant  Female will cover eggs with a frothy white substance that later turns brown Larva/Nymph  Tiny flattened white larva 1.5mm  Typically legless  Live in between plant leaf surfaces Adult  Tiny  Metallic gray in color with an orange, black and white pattern on the tip of the 2-4mm forewings  Forewings and hind wings are feather-like  Active during the day Pupa (if applicable)  Shield-shaped mines made from leaf components

Type of feeder (Chewing, sucking, etc.): Larvae have chewing mouthparts while adults have siphoning mouthparts

Host plant/s: Apple and cherry trees

Description of Damage (larvae and adults): Young larvae will hatch and begin mining immediately in leaves. Mature larvae will cut small round or oval areas from mined leaves that will drop to the ground or will be carried by the larvae and fastened to the bark of the tree trunk or limbs. Large larvae populations will cause leaves to develop several “punch” holes. Also, infested leaves may become necrotic and drop prematurely.

Adult females will cover their eggs with a frothy white substance to protect them, which reduces the aesthetic appeal of the tree.

References:

Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California. (2016, September 20). How to Manage Pests. Retrieved March 22, 2017, from http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/INVERT/shfollagemin.html

BOLD Systems. (2014). Coptodisca splendoriferella {species} - Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Heliozelidae; Coptodisca;. Retrieved March 22, 2017, from http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=530803

Eiseman, C., & Hardy, R. (2013, May 15). Family Heliozelidae - Shield Bearer Moths. Retrieved March 23, 2017, from http://bugguide.net/node/view/193415