Acleris cristana
This record describes Acleris cristana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 18 to 22 mm. Quite a distinctive species which shows a wide variation in appearance, with a number of named forms. It has an unusual raised patch of scales, or 'scale-tuft' in the centre of the forewing. This species flies between August and November, then again from March till May after hibernation. The larva feeds on a range of rosaceous trees and bushes, including Blackthorn and Hawthorn. Occurring mainly in southern England where it is fairly frequent but slightly less common elsewhere. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Acleris
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It prefers well wooded areas.
Seasonal Activity
This species flies between August and November, then again from March till May after hibernation.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva feeds on a range of rosaceous trees and bushes, including Blackthorn and Hawthorn.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Occurring mainly in southern England where it is fairly frequent but slightly less common elsewhere. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acleris cristana. 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 cristana (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Acleris cristana
What is Acleris cristana?
Acleris cristana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Acleris cristana found?
Habitat: It prefers well wooded areas.
When is Acleris cristana active?
Acleris cristana: seasonal activity - This species flies between August and November, then again from March till May after hibernation..
What is the life cycle of a Acleris cristana?
The larva feeds on a range of rosaceous trees and bushes, including Blackthorn and Hawthorn.