Lesser Maple Leafroller - Hodges#3539
Acleris chalybeana
This record describes Acleris chalybeana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Larva - light green. ( 3 ) genitalia
Identification notes
Larva - light green. ( 3 ) 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
Eastern half of the United States and southeastern Canada. ( 4 ) , ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on the leaves of sugar maple, red maple, mountain maple, yellow birch, beech and eastern hophornbeam. Described material: Orono, Maine, one taken at sugar Sept. 20, 1880 (Fernald); New York.
Life History
Larva pupates in a folded leaf shelter. Early instars may winter in hibernacula on twigs. ( 3 ) Pupa; adult; adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin chalybeius meaning "iron, steel, chalybeate," for the "light steel-blue" features of the moth. ,
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acleris chalybeana. 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 Lesser Maple Leafroller - Hodges#3539 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Lesser Maple Leafroller - Hodges#3539
What is Lesser Maple Leafroller - Hodges#3539?
Lesser Maple Leafroller - Hodges#3539 (Acleris chalybeana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Lesser Maple Leafroller - Hodges#3539?
Wingspan about 21 mm. ( 3 ) Larva to about 19 mm. ( 3 )
How do you identify Lesser Maple Leafroller - Hodges#3539?
Larva - light green. ( 3 ) genitalia
Where is Lesser Maple Leafroller - Hodges#3539 found?
Range: Eastern half of the United States and southeastern Canada. ( 4 ) , ( 3 )
What does Lesser Maple Leafroller - Hodges#3539 eat?
The diet of the Lesser Maple Leafroller - Hodges#3539 includes Larvae feed on the leaves of sugar maple, red maple, mountain maple, yellow birch, beech and eastern hophornbeam. Described material: Orono, Maine, one taken at sugar Sept. 20, 1880 (Fernald); New York..
What is the life cycle of a Lesser Maple Leafroller - Hodges#3539?
Larva pupates in a folded leaf shelter. Early instars may winter in hibernacula on twigs. ( 3 ) Pupa; adult; adult