About Homona coffearia (Nietner, 1861)
This species, Homona coffearia (Nietner, 1861), has a wingspan of 16–20 mm for males, and approximately 23 mm for females. In Sri Lanka, adult moths are active between December and April. In China, the species has two generations per year, with adults emerging in late May. Homona coffearia is native to Asia. It has been recorded on two separate occasions in Great Britain: three moths emerged in April 1964 from three Camellia plants imported from Japan that were located in Sussex, and there are also two additional records of the species from Torpoint, Cornwall. The larvae of Homona coffearia feed on plant species including Acacia auriculiformis, Arachis hypogaea, Bauhinia, Cajanus indicus, Calophyllum inophyllum, Camellia sinensis, Cinnamomum, Citrus, Coffea, Crotalaria, Derris, Eucalyptus alba, Eugenia polyantha, Glochidion, Gossypium, Linum, Melochia indica, Nephelium, Pluchea indica and Pyrus. The full life cycle of the tea tortrix, as this species is commonly called, takes 35 to 49 days to complete. Immediately after mating, adult females lay 100 to 150 egg clusters on the surface of host plant leaves. The eggs are tiny, scaly, and arranged in overlapping formations. Larvae hatch from the eggs 6 to 8 days after being laid. Larvae go through five instar stages before reaching full growth after 3 to 4 weeks. A fully grown caterpillar reaches approximately 22 mm in length. Pupation takes place inside folded leaves, and adults emerge 6–8 days after pupation begins.
