Black-patched Clepsis Moth - Hodges#3686
Clepsis melaleucanus
This record describes Clepsis melaleucanus (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Larva - body pale green, head yellow-brown.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tortricinae
- Tribe
- Archipini
- Genus
- Clepsis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Alberta to Newfoundland, south to North Carolina and Missouri. ( 6 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larva feeds on cohosh ( Caulophyllum sp.), Solomon’s seal ( Polygonatum sp.), and trillium ( Trillium sp.) (Razowski 1979). TortAI also includes green alder, mountain alder, wintergreen, witchhazel and meadowsweet. ( 5 )
Life History
Larva makes a tight roll of a leaf or bract, venturing out to feed upon nearby foliage or flowers. ( 6 ) Larva; pupa; adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Greek μέλας + λευκός meaning "dark and light," presumably for the dark dorsal patch on the light ground color of the forewings. Melaleuca is a genus of myrtle but Walker makes no mention of a host plant in his description.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Clepsis melaleucanus. 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 Black-patched Clepsis Moth - Hodges#3686 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by jvandyk , Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Black-patched Clepsis Moth - Hodges#3686
What is Black-patched Clepsis Moth - Hodges#3686?
Black-patched Clepsis Moth - Hodges#3686 (Clepsis melaleucanus) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Black-patched Clepsis Moth - Hodges#3686?
Wingspan about 20 mm. ( 4 ) Forewing length 8.5-11 mm. ( 5 ) Larva to 14-19 mm. ( 5 )
How do you identify Black-patched Clepsis Moth - Hodges#3686?
Larva - body pale green, head yellow-brown.
Where is Black-patched Clepsis Moth - Hodges#3686 found?
Range: Alberta to Newfoundland, south to North Carolina and Missouri. ( 6 )
What does Black-patched Clepsis Moth - Hodges#3686 eat?
The diet of the Black-patched Clepsis Moth - Hodges#3686 includes Larva feeds on cohosh ( Caulophyllum sp.), Solomon’s seal ( Polygonatum sp.), and trillium ( Trillium sp.) (Razowski 1979). TortAI also includes green alder, mountain alder, wintergreen, witchhazel and meadowsweet. ( 5 ).
What is the life cycle of a Black-patched Clepsis Moth - Hodges#3686?
Larva makes a tight roll of a leaf or bract, venturing out to feed upon nearby foliage or flowers. ( 6 ) Larva; pupa; adult