Brown Oak Tortrix
Archips crataegana
This record describes Archips crataegana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan male: about 20mm, female: about 25mm. This is a sexually dimorphic species the females being larger than the males, which have a 'costal fold' in common with a number of related species. The larvae feed on a number of deciduous trees, including oak, elm, ash and willow. They feed in a tightly-rolled leaf. It is relatively uncommon though has a wide distribution over much of the British Isles. 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
- Archips
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It frequents mainly wooded habitats.
Seasonal Activity
Flies from June to August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on a number of deciduous trees, including oak, elm, ash and willow. They feed in a tightly-rolled leaf.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is relatively uncommon though has a wide distribution over much of the British Isles. 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 Archips crataegana. 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 Brown Oak Tortrix (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Brown Oak Tortrix
What is Brown Oak Tortrix?
Brown Oak Tortrix (Archips crataegana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Brown Oak Tortrix found?
Habitat: It frequents mainly wooded habitats.
When is Brown Oak Tortrix active?
Brown Oak Tortrix: seasonal activity - Flies from June to August..
What is the life cycle of a Brown Oak Tortrix?
The larvae feed on a number of deciduous trees, including oak, elm, ash and willow. They feed in a tightly-rolled leaf.