Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Section: Cossina
Family: Tortricidae
Tribe: Grapholitini
Genus: Cydia
Species: C. succedana
Binomial name: Cydia succedana
Common name: Gorse pod moth
Cydia succedana is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae and is endemic to Europe. It is a small moth with a 12-16 mm wingspan. The males fly in the sunshine, but the females tend to be more crepuscular (dawn and dusk). The moth flies from late September to February depending on the location.
Gorse was introduced into New Zealand prior to 1835 as an inexpensive, quick growing hedge for stock containment and shelter. However, due to the lack of biological predators and the favourable climate over much of New Zealand, there was a multiplication of the number of gorse plants in a short period of time and is now a major invasive weed in New Zealand.
Cydia succedana is one of the biological agents released in New Zealand to control gorse. The weevil (Exapion ulicis) and the gorse spider mite (Tetranychus lintearius) have also have been released as control agents to kill gorse.
The larvae of Cydia succedana live within the gorse pods and can consume the seeds of a number of pods before they pupate. The larvae also feed internally in the seed pods of broom (Cytisus).
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