Acleris hastiana
This record describes Acleris hastiana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Acleris hastiana is perhaps the most variable British tortrix moth with dozens of named forms and many intermediate types. Some forms can resemble those of the similarly variable but scarcer A. cristana which however has a more concave forewing costa and usually two prominent scale tufts. There are two generations in much of its range, with moths flying in June and July and again from August, when the adults hibernate. In parts of Scotland there is just one brood, flying from September onwards. The larvae feed on small-leaved Willows (Salix spp.), spinning together two or more leaves. Fairly frequent and widely distributed throughout the British Isles. 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
Various habitats.
Seasonal Activity
There are two generations in much of its range, with moths flying in June and July and again from August, when the adults hibernate. In parts of Scotland there is just one brood, flying from September onwards.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on small-leaved Willows (Salix spp.), spinning together two or more leaves.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly frequent and widely distributed throughout the British Isles. 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 hastiana. 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 hastiana (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About Acleris hastiana
What is Acleris hastiana?
Acleris hastiana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Acleris hastiana found?
Habitat: Various habitats.
When is Acleris hastiana active?
Acleris hastiana: seasonal activity - There are two generations in much of its range, with moths flying in June and July and again from August, when the adults hibernate. In parts of Scotland there is just one brood, flying from September onwards..
What is the life cycle of a Acleris hastiana?
The larvae feed on small-leaved Willows (Salix spp.), spinning together two or more leaves.