Acleris ferrugana
This record describes Acleris ferrugana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 14 to 18 mm. Acleris ferrugana is very similar to Acleris notana and both are equally variable. They can only be reliably separated by genitalia dissection. Where specimens have not been confirmed by this means they should be recorded as Acleris ferrugana/notana agg. , although A.ferrugana often shows a small black tuft of scales at a quarter distance from the head. The adults fly in July and again in September and October, the second generation overwintering to reappear in spring. The larvae feed mainly on oak in a spinning between leaves. Fairly frequent and widespread in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. No additional images available for this species.
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
The species inhabits 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
The larvae feed mainly on oak in a spinning between leaves.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly frequent and widespread in Britain. 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 ferrugana. 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 (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Acleris ferrugana
What is Acleris ferrugana?
Acleris ferrugana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Acleris ferrugana found?
Habitat: The species inhabits woodland.
When is Acleris ferrugana active?
Acleris ferrugana: 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?
The larvae feed mainly on oak in a spinning between leaves.