About Tortrix viridana (Linnaeus, 1758)
The green oak tortrix, scientifically named Tortrix viridana, is also called the European oak leafroller and the green oak moth. It is a distinctive green moth whose larvae feed on tree leaves, with oak being the preferred host. The head, forebody, and front wings of this moth are green, while the hind wings are a light greyish color. Its wingspan ranges from 18 to 24 millimetres. Heavy infestations of the larvae can fully defoliate an oak tree. Adult females lay their eggs next to leaf buds; when larvae emerge, they consume these buds. As larvae grow larger, they feed on bigger full-sized leaves, then roll themselves inside a leaf to pupate. Larvae are active from April to June, while adults are in flight during June and July. A specific parasitoid of this species is the ichneumon wasp Dirophanes invisor, which specializes in attacking T. viridana. Tortrix viridana is commonly found across many parts of Britain. In 2011, Butterfly Conservation classified this species as common in its Microlepidoptera Report.
