KEYS    About TortAI    Fact Sheets    Glossary    ID Thumbnails    DNA Search    Dissection Guides Acleris nivisellana << Previous Next >> CAPS Non-target - Adult Acleris nivisellana (Walsingham) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Tortricini) Common names: apple leaf twister Fig. 1: Male Fig. 1: Male Fig. 2: Female Fig. 2: Female Fig. 3: Male genitalia Fig. 3: Male genitalia Fig. 4: Female genitalia Fig. 4: Female genitalia Adult Recognition FWL: 6.0-7.5 mm The following forewing pattern elements are consistent across most individuals: ground color white; large dark brown to black, triangular costal patch; brownish-yellow patch extending from the costal patch to the dorsal margin; and large patch of dark-brown to black on distal one-third of the wing. Males lack a forewing costal fold. Acleris nivisellana can appear similar in forewing pattern to certain forms of other Acleris species, such as A. forbesana and A. variegana. Most other similar species lack the large patch of dark scales on the distal one-third of the wing that is found in A. nivisellana. Larval Morphology Mid- to late instar larvae are approximately 9-16 mm long. Abdominal color varies, while the head is brown to dark brown posteriorly and dark brown to black anteriorly. The prothoracic shield has two large posterolateral black spots, one on each side, and is otherwise concolorous with the abdomen. Biology Acleris nivisellana appears to complete two generations per year, with adults present in June and again in mid-August and September. Larval feeding occurs in a silken chamber on the lower surface of leaves along the midrib. Larvae skeletonize the leaves and may partly sever the midrib, causing injured leaves to have a characteristic twisted appearance. Larvae have not been recorded feeding on fruit or other parts of the plant. Host plants This species has been recorded feeding on various plants in the family Rosaceae. Family Genus/species Common name Rosaceae Crataegus L. hawthorn Rosaceae Malus Mill. apple Rosaceae Malus pumila Mill. paradise apple Rosaceae Physocarpus malvaceus (Greene) Kuntze mallow ninebark Rosaceae Prunus pensylvanica L. f. pin cherry Rosaceae Sorbus L. mountain ash Rosaceae Sorbus scopulina Greene Greene's mountain ash Distribution Acleris nivisellana is distributed from the Northeastern United States across southern Canada to British Columbia and south to California. In the United States it is found mainly north of the 40th parallel. References Chapman, P. J. and S. E. Lienk. 1971. Tortricid fauna of apple in New York (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae); including an account of apple's occurrence in the state, especially as a naturalized plant. Spec. Publ. Geneva, NY: New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. 122 pp. Powell, J. A. 1964. Biological and taxonomic studies on tortricine moths, with reference to the species in California. University of California Publications in Entomology. Vol. 32. 317 pp. Tortricids of Agricultural Importance by Todd M. Gilligan and Marc E. Epstein Interactive Keys developed in Lucid 3.5. Last updated August 2014.