# Carposina scirrhosella

The Carposina scirrhosella is a small moth with beautiful wings. It loves to flutter around gardens and fields, making it a delightful sight for nature lovers.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Gardens and fields

![Carposina scirrhosella](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Carposina_scirrhosella_larva.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Gyorgy Csoka, CC BY 3.0 us · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carposina_scirrhosella_larva.jpg)

## Appearance

The Carposina scirrhosella is a small moth, typically mottled greyish-brown, sometimes with hints of red or darker spots on its forewings, which help it blend in. Its hindwings are paler, and its body is fuzzy. It can resemble a piece of bark or a bird dropping.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Lepidoptera
- **Family:** Carposinidae
- **Genus:** Carposina

## Interesting facts

- Female moths can lay over 100 tiny eggs, usually on fruit skin!
- Its larvae are sometimes called 'fruitworms' because they live inside apples!
- They are nocturnal flyers, seeking host fruit trees under the cover of night.
- This moth often pretends to be a bird dropping to avoid being eaten by predators.

## Special abilities

- **Disguise Master:** Carposina scirrhosella has mottled wings that help them camouflage perfectly against tree bark, hiding from hungry birds.
- **Fruit Burrower:** Carposina scirrhosella larvae can tunnel into ripening fruits because their tiny jaws allow them to chew through tough skin.
- **Scent Seeker:** Carposina scirrhosella uses super-sensitive antennae that help them detect the perfect ripe fruit for laying their eggs.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 14-20 mm
- **Size:** 6-9 mm
- **Lifespan:** 14-28 days
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

The larvae of this moth eat the delicious insides of ripening fruits.

- **Age differences:** Larvae eat fruit pulp, while adults may sip nectar or not feed at all.
- **Primary Foods:** apples, pears, plums, cherries, hawthorn berries, rose hips
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** apple (*Malus domestica*) — Its larvae burrow into the fruit.
- **Eaten by:** [great tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — These birds prey on the moths and larvae.
- **Parasitizes:** parasitic wasp (*Trichogramma pretiosum*) — These tiny wasps lay eggs inside the moth's eggs.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Moths are usually harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Carposina scirrhosella?

Compare resting wing shape, forewing markings, antennae and body build. Small brown moths can hinge on fine details a phone photo can't always catch. Moth Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What is Carposina scirrhosella's wingspan?

14-20 mm

### How big is Carposina scirrhosella?

6-9 mm

### How long does Carposina scirrhosella live?

14-28 days

### What does Carposina scirrhosella eat?

The larvae of this moth eat the delicious insides of ripening fruits.

### Where is Carposina scirrhosella usually found?

Gardens and fields

### How does Carposina scirrhosella hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Carposina scirrhosella have?

6

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Carposina scirrhosella: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/carposina-scirrhosella)