European vine moth

The adults have a wingspan of 10-15 mm and creamy white forewings with brown, olive brown, blackish and bluish-grey markings. The hindwings of the female are dark brownish grey and the hindwings of the male are whitish grey.

The eggs are 0.7 x 0.6 mm and yellowish when laid. Later they become greyish opalescent.

The larvae are up to 11 mm long; body greyish green or yellowish green to brown and often translucent. Their head is yellowish brown. The pupae are 5-7 mm long and yellowish brown to dark brown.

Adults appear in late April or early May. The eggs are laid mainly on flower buds and hatch in about a week. The larvae then attack the flower buds and spin silken webs within the developing inflorescences. Pupation occurs in these habitations or a suitable sheltered place nearby. Moths of the next generation appear about a week later. The larvae of the second generation feed on the developing clusters of grapes. Their development is very rapid if the conditions are favourable and a further 1-2 generations may be completed in the same season. The pupae overwinter in a cocoon under bark, in cracks of supporting posts or other shelters.