LepidopteraTortricidae – Tortricid Moths

Red-edged Acleris - Hodges#3502

Acleris albicomana

This record describes Acleris albicomana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Red-edged Acleris - Hodges#3502 - Acleris albicomana
Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi

Identification notes

Genitalia:

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Tortricoidea
Family
Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
Subfamily
Tortricinae
Tribe
Tortricini
Genus
Acleris

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Transcontinental.

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Larval hosts include red columbine ( Aquilegia canadensis ), red oak ( Quercus rubra ), California wildrose ( Rosa californica ) and blueberry ( Vaccinium ). Powell & Opler report that the larvae roll new spring leaves of various roses, including garden varieties.

Additional species information

Species notes from the sources

Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin albus coma meaning "white-haired (of the head)," for the white head.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acleris albicomana. Species-specific details appear above.

Group overview

Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.

Ecological role of the group

Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.

Economic and practical significance of the group

Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.

Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Red-edged Acleris - Hodges#3502 (5)

Red-edged Acleris - Hodges#3502 - photo 1
Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Red-edged Acleris - Hodges#3502 - photo 2
Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Red-edged Acleris - Hodges#3502 - photo 3
Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Red-edged Acleris - Hodges#3502 - photo 4
Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Red-edged Acleris - Hodges#3502 - photo 5
Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi

Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi

Frequently Asked Questions About Red-edged Acleris - Hodges#3502

How big is Red-edged Acleris - Hodges#3502?

Forewing length 7-8 mm.

How do you identify Red-edged Acleris - Hodges#3502?

Genitalia:

Where is Red-edged Acleris - Hodges#3502 found?

Range: Transcontinental.

What does Red-edged Acleris - Hodges#3502 eat?

The diet of the Red-edged Acleris - Hodges#3502 includes Larval hosts include red columbine ( Aquilegia canadensis ), red oak ( Quercus rubra ), California wildrose ( Rosa californica ) and blueberry ( Vaccinium ). Powell & Opler report that the larvae roll new spring leaves of various roses, including garden varieties..

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.