<P> Male, ventral view </P> <P> Larvae are not easily distinguished from the larvae of other tortricid leafrollers; only DNA testing is a certain identification method . The first larval instar has a dark brown head; all other instars have a light fawn head and prothoracic plate . Overwintering larvae are darker . First instar larvae are approximately 1.6 mm long, and final instar larvae range from 10--18 mm in length . The body of a mature larva is medium green with a darker green central stripe and two side stripes . </P> <P> The light brown apple moth is a native insect of Australia . It has been introduced and now also lives in New Caledonia, the British Isles, Hawaii (since 1896), and New Zealand . In March 2007 the moth was positively identified in California by DNA samples across hundreds of miles, from Los Angeles to Napa, north of San Francisco . </P> <P> Light brown apple moth pass through three generations annually with a partial fourth generation in some years . The moth has no winter resting stage . There is considerable overlap in the generations . In warmer areas, four or even five generations are completed annually, with major flight periods occurring during September--October, December--January, February--March, and April--May . In cooler climates, the number of complete generations may be reduced to two . </P>

Where did the light brown apple moth came from