Acleris literana
This record describes Acleris literana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 18 to 22 mm. This is a distinctive species. It is very variable, and many different forms have been described, but they often have a combination of pale or whitish green ground colour with blackish markings. The moth is on the wing in August and September, and again in April and May, having overwintered as an adult. Locally distributed, mainly in the southern half of Britain. 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
An inhabitant of Oak woodland.
Seasonal Activity
The moth is on the wing in August and September, and again in April and May, having overwintered as an adult.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Locally distributed, mainly in the southern half of Britain. 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 literana. 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 literana (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Acleris literana
What is Acleris literana?
Acleris literana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Acleris literana found?
Habitat: An inhabitant of Oak woodland.
When is Acleris literana active?
Acleris literana: seasonal activity - The moth is on the wing in August and September, and again in April and May, having overwintered as an adult..