Western Blackheaded Budworm - Hodges#3547
Acleris gloveranus
This record describes Acleris gloveranus (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
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
Alaska and northwestern Canada south to northern California and east to western Montana. Holotype male: Sheep Rock, Siskiyou Co., California. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae recorded on various Pinaceae, including balsam fir, white fir, spruce, hemlock and larch. ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) Sometimes reaches outbreak population levels, causing widespread defoliation, especially in British Columbia and Alaska. ( 7 ) Severe outbreaks can cover millions of acres, resulting in up to 50% tree mortality in some coastal areas. Outbreaks tend to occur after periods of low rainfall. ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of famed illustrator and entomologist Townend Glover (1813-1883).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acleris gloveranus. 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 Western Blackheaded Budworm - Hodges#3547 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Western Blackheaded Budworm - Hodges#3547
How big is Western Blackheaded Budworm - Hodges#3547?
Forewing length 8.0-10.5 mm. ( 3 ) Larva to 11-15 mm. ( 3 )
How do you identify Western Blackheaded Budworm - Hodges#3547?
Genitalia:
Where is Western Blackheaded Budworm - Hodges#3547 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Range | Alaska and northwestern Canada south to northern California and east to western Montana. Holotype |
| Male | Sheep Rock, Siskiyou Co., California. ( 4 ) |
What does Western Blackheaded Budworm - Hodges#3547 eat?
The diet of the Western Blackheaded Budworm - Hodges#3547 includes Larvae recorded on various Pinaceae, including balsam fir, white fir, spruce, hemlock and larch. ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) Sometimes reaches outbreak population levels, causing widespread defoliation, especially in British Columbia and Alaska. ( 7 ) Severe outbreaks can cover millions of acres, resulting in up to 50% tree mortality in some coastal areas. Outbreaks tend to occur after periods of low rainfall. ( 3 ).