Garden Rose Tortrix
Acleris variegana
This record describes Acleris variegana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 14-18 mm. An extremely variable species. Flying from July to September, it is mainly nocturnal and is attracted by bright lights. The larvae feed on Rose bushes, as the name suggests but also on a range of other trees and shrubs. Occurs commonly throughout Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tortricinae
- Tribe
- Tortricini
- Genus
- Acleris
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Gardens and woodland.
Seasonal Activity
Flying from July to September, it is mainly nocturnal and is attracted by bright lights.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Rose bushes, as the name suggests but also on a range of other trees and shrubs.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Occurs commonly throughout Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acleris variegana. 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 Garden Rose Tortrix (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Garden Rose Tortrix
What is Garden Rose Tortrix?
Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Garden Rose Tortrix found?
Habitat: Gardens and woodland.
When is Garden Rose Tortrix active?
Garden Rose Tortrix: seasonal activity - Flying from July to September, it is mainly nocturnal and is attracted by bright lights..
What is the life cycle of a Garden Rose Tortrix?
The larvae feed on Rose bushes, as the name suggests but also on a range of other trees and shrubs.