Blueberry Leaftier - Hodges#3504
Acleris curvalana
This record describes Acleris curvalana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Across Canada and the Eastern half of the United States. Type locality: Montclair, New Jersey.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on blueberry : first instar bores into flower buds destroying the fruits in early spring, older larvae feed on the leaves as leaftiers. Kearfott described curvalana as a variety of albicomana , including a specimen reared from huckleberry.
Life History
See Ponder & Seabrook (2008) in Print References for complete life history.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet for the "distinguishing feature of this variety ... a wide, sweeping curve from outer third of costa to anal angle, which outlines the ochreish-red area."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acleris curvalana. 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 Blueberry Leaftier - Hodges#3504 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Blueberry Leaftier - Hodges#3504
How big is Blueberry Leaftier - Hodges#3504?
Wingspan about 14 mm.
Where is Blueberry Leaftier - Hodges#3504 found?
Range: Across Canada and the Eastern half of the United States. Type locality: Montclair, New Jersey.
What does Blueberry Leaftier - Hodges#3504 eat?
The diet of the Blueberry Leaftier - Hodges#3504 includes Larvae feed on blueberry : first instar bores into flower buds destroying the fruits in early spring, older larvae feed on the leaves as leaftiers. Kearfott described curvalana as a variety of albicomana , including a specimen reared from huckleberry..
What is the life cycle of a Blueberry Leaftier - Hodges#3504?
See Ponder & Seabrook (2008) in Print References for complete life history.