Acleris cf. clarkei - Hodges#3544.85
Acleris cf-clarkei
This record describes Acleris cf-clarkei (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Obraztsov described the adults including genitalia. Acleris clarkei Obraztsov, 1963 was described from a male holotype from Washington and a geographically disjunct (~1600km) female allotype from Manitoba. Given this large distance and given that the illustration of the genitalia of the allotype appears to match that of A. obtusana , it is unclear if the two are in fact conspecific. Specimens of the phenotype of clarkei from eastern NA are placed by DNA barcoded squarely within BOLD:AAB6464, the BIN group for A. obtusana ssp. fuscana . Pending further work, MPG treats eastern clarkei as a color morph of obtusana with true clarkei possibly restricted to western NA.
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
Alberta to Michigan and Nova Scotia. , Holotype, ♂ collected Apr. 9, 1931, Cle Elum, Kittitas County, Washington., J.F. Gates Clarke.
Seasonal Activity
The adults are most common from May to September.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Obraztsov stated "This new species is named for Dr. J.F. Gates Clarke, of the U.S. National Museum, who directed the attention of the present author to this and some other Acleris species in the collection of the above museum."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acleris cf-clarkei. 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.
Photos of Acleris cf. clarkei - Hodges#3544.85 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Acleris cf. clarkei - Hodges#3544.85
What is Acleris cf. clarkei - Hodges#3544.85?
Acleris cf. clarkei - Hodges#3544.85 (Acleris cf-clarkei) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Acleris cf. clarkei - Hodges#3544.85?
Obraztsov listed the forewing length as 7-8 mm.
How do you identify Acleris cf. clarkei - Hodges#3544.85?
Obraztsov described the adults including genitalia.
Where is Acleris cf. clarkei - Hodges#3544.85 found?
Range: Alberta to Michigan and Nova Scotia. , Holotype, ♂ collected Apr. 9, 1931, Cle Elum, Kittitas County, Washington., J.F. Gates Clarke.
When is Acleris cf. clarkei - Hodges#3544.85 active?
Acleris cf. clarkei - Hodges#3544.85: seasonal activity - The adults are most common from May to September..