Acleris kochiella
This record describes Acleris kochiella (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 15 to 18 mm. It can closely resemble A. logiana which occurs in Scotland and until recently the two were thought to be separable on distribution. However, logiana has now appeared in southern England, so more care must be taken with identification. The moths fly in two generations, in June and July, and from September, overwintering and sometimes reappearing in the spring. The larval foodplant is elm, the larvae feeding in folded or spun leaves. Occurring most commonly in southern England, becoming scarcer northwards to Yorkshire, and unknown in Scotland. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
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
In areas containing elm.
Seasonal Activity
The moths fly in two generations, in June and July, and from September, overwintering and sometimes reappearing in the spring.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larval foodplant is elm, the larvae feeding in folded or spun leaves.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Occurring most commonly in southern England, becoming scarcer northwards to Yorkshire, and unknown in Scotland. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acleris kochiella. 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 kochiella (4)
Frequently Asked Questions About Acleris kochiella
What is Acleris kochiella?
Acleris kochiella is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Acleris kochiella found?
Habitat: In areas containing elm.
When is Acleris kochiella active?
Acleris kochiella: seasonal activity - The moths fly in two generations, in June and July, and from September, overwintering and sometimes reappearing in the spring..
What is the life cycle of a Acleris kochiella?
The larval foodplant is elm, the larvae feeding in folded or spun leaves.