Acleris implexana - Hodges#3522
Acleris implexana
This record describes Acleris implexana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing light yellowish with gray triangular or semicircular patch midway along costa containing several darker gray spots; dark spot in AM area near inner margin; hindwing slightly paler than forewing, unmarked. At present, distinguishing this species from A. ferrumixtana , previously treated as a subspecies of implexana , by external features is not possible. A. implexana is a Nearctic species with DNA supported records at BOLD from across Canada, while ferrumixtana is Holarctic with records from Canada and Scandinavia. ( 6 )
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
Quebec to British Columbia and presumably adjacent areas of United States. Type locality: St. Martin's Falls on the Albany River, Ontario (Dr. Barnston ). ,
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of quaking aspen and willow. ( 5 ) Also reported feeding in the pine cone willow gall caused by the gall midge Rhabdophaga strobiloides .
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin implexus meaning "involved, entwined."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acleris implexana. 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 implexana - Hodges#3522 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Acleris implexana - Hodges#3522
What is Acleris implexana - Hodges#3522?
Acleris implexana - Hodges#3522 (Acleris implexana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Acleris implexana - Hodges#3522?
Wingspan about 13-14 mm.
How do you identify Acleris implexana - Hodges#3522?
Adult - forewing light yellowish with gray triangular or semicircular patch midway along costa containing several darker gray spots; dark spot in AM area near inner margin; hindwing slightly paler than forewing, unmarked.
Where is Acleris implexana - Hodges#3522 found?
Range: Quebec to British Columbia and presumably adjacent areas of United States. Type locality: St. Martin's Falls on the Albany River, Ontario (Dr. Barnston ). ,
What does Acleris implexana - Hodges#3522 eat?
The diet of the Acleris implexana - Hodges#3522 includes Larvae feed on leaves of quaking aspen and willow. ( 5 ) Also reported feeding in the pine cone willow gall caused by the gall midge Rhabdophaga strobiloides ..