Acleris ferrugana/notana agg.
This record describes Acleris ferrugana/notana agg. (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 14 to 18 mm. Acleris ferrugana and Acleris notana very variable species, and can be very similar. The two are best separated by examination of the genitalia. Where genitalia examination has not been carried out the species should be added as an aggregate. The adults fly in July and again in September and October, the second generation overwintering to reappear in spring. Acleris ferrugana larvae feed mainly on Oak in a spinning between leaves, whilst the food plant for Acleris notana is Birch. Fairly frequent and widespread in Britain as an aggregate. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species were 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
Various habitats, especially woodland.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in July and again in September and October, the second generation overwintering to reappear in spring.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Acleris ferrugana larvae feed mainly on Oak in a spinning between leaves, whilst the food plant for Acleris notana is Birch.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly frequent and widespread in Britain as an aggregate. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species were classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acleris ferrugana/notana agg.. 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 ferrugana/notana agg. (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About Acleris ferrugana/notana agg.
What is Acleris ferrugana/notana agg.?
Acleris ferrugana/notana agg. is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Acleris ferrugana/notana agg. found?
Habitat: Various habitats, especially woodland.
When is Acleris ferrugana/notana agg. active?
Acleris ferrugana/notana agg.: seasonal activity - The adults fly in July and again in September and October, the second generation overwintering to reappear in spring..
What is the life cycle of a Acleris ferrugana/notana agg.?
Acleris ferrugana larvae feed mainly on Oak in a spinning between leaves, whilst the food plant for Acleris notana is Birch.