Acleris holmiana
This record describes Acleris holmiana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan about 13 mm. A very distinctive species, with a striking white patch on each wing. The flight period of the adult moths is July and August in a single generation. They are easily disturbed by day and at night can be attracted to light. The larvae feed on a range of Rosaceous trees and shrubs including hawthorn, rose and apple. They spin two leaves together and feed within, during May and June. Distributed widely throughout much of Britain, although scarcer in the north. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
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
Habitat
Various habitats.
Seasonal Activity
The flight period of the adult moths is July and August in a single generation. They are easily disturbed by day and at night can be attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on a range of Rosaceous trees and shrubs including hawthorn, rose and apple. They spin two leaves together and feed within, during May and June.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Distributed widely throughout much of Britain, although scarcer in the north. 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 holmiana. 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 holmiana (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Acleris holmiana
What is Acleris holmiana?
Acleris holmiana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Acleris holmiana found?
Habitat: Various habitats.
When is Acleris holmiana active?
Acleris holmiana: seasonal activity - The flight period of the adult moths is July and August in a single generation. They are easily disturbed by day and at night can be attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Acleris holmiana?
The larvae feed on a range of Rosaceous trees and shrubs including hawthorn, rose and apple. They spin two leaves together and feed within, during May and June.