Dusky-back leaf roller - Hodges#3649
Archips mortuana
This record describes Archips mortuana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Similar to Archips argyrospila , but darker. Archips mortuana is part of the Archips argyrospila species complex, and it was once hypothesized to simply be a dark form of A. argyrospila (Powell, 1964). Chapman and Lienk demonstrated that the sex pheromone for A. mortuana is different from A. argyrospila , providing evidence that the two are indeed separate species .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tortricinae
- Tribe
- Archipini
- Genus
- Archips
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
MPG records from Maine, Michigan, and New York. ( 3 ) . Types and other described material: Ottawa, Sept. 23 and April 21 (C.H. Young ); Hampton, New Hampshire, Oct. 18, Mar. 28 to May 2 (S. Albert Shaw ).
Seasonal Activity
MPG records from May to August ( 3 ) .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: "Chapman and Lienk consider apple and hawthorn to be the primary larval hosts in the northeastern U.S."
Life History
"Females lay eggs in masses of approximately 60-80 individual eggs. Eggs overwinter and first instar larvae hatch the following spring. Larvae feed primarily on leaves and pupation occurs within the final larval feeding site" .
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "death." Originally described as a subspecies of Archips argyrospila with all colors "replaced by grays" giving it a dead appearance.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Archips mortuana. 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 Dusky-back leaf roller - Hodges#3649 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Dusky-back leaf roller - Hodges#3649
What is Dusky-back leaf roller - Hodges#3649?
Dusky-back leaf roller - Hodges#3649 (Archips mortuana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Dusky-back leaf roller - Hodges#3649?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing length: 7-9 mm. |
| Wingspan | Wingspan: 18-20 mm. |
How do you identify Dusky-back leaf roller - Hodges#3649?
Similar to Archips argyrospila , but darker.
Where is Dusky-back leaf roller - Hodges#3649 found?
Range: MPG records from Maine, Michigan, and New York. ( 3 ) . Types and other described material: Ottawa, Sept. 23 and April 21 (C.H. Young ); Hampton, New Hampshire, Oct. 18, Mar. 28 to May 2 (S. Albert Shaw ).
What does Dusky-back leaf roller - Hodges#3649 eat?
The diet of the Dusky-back leaf roller - Hodges#3649 includes Chapman and Lienk consider apple and hawthorn to be the primary larval hosts in the northeastern U.S..
When is Dusky-back leaf roller - Hodges#3649 active?
Dusky-back leaf roller - Hodges#3649: seasonal activity - MPG records from May to August ( 3 ) ..
What is the life cycle of a Dusky-back leaf roller - Hodges#3649?
Females lay eggs in masses of approximately 60-80 individual eggs. Eggs overwinter and first instar larvae hatch the following spring. Larvae feed primarily on leaves and pupation occurs within the final larval feeding site .