KEYS    About TortAI    Fact Sheets    Glossary    ID Thumbnails    DNA Search    Dissection Guides

CAPS Non-target - Adult

Acleris variegana (Denis & Schiffermuller) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Tortricini)

Common names:  garden rose tortrix

Synonyms: albana (Peronea), alpicolana (form), argentana (form), asperana (Pyralis), blandiana (Tortrix), brunneana (form), caeruleoatrana (ab.), cirrana (Peronea), costimaculana (Peronea), fuscana (form), insignata (Tortrix), nyctemerana (Tortrix), osbeckiana (Tortrix), uniformis (ab.)

Fig. 1: Male

Fig. 1: Male

Fig. 2: Male

Fig. 2: Male

Fig. 3: Female

Fig. 3: Female

Fig. 4: Female

Fig. 4: Female

Fig. 5: Male genitalia

Fig. 5: Male genitalia

Fig. 6: Female genitalia

Fig. 6: Female genitalia

Fig. 7: Resting adult

Fig. 7: Resting adult

Fig. 8: Resting adult

Fig. 8: Resting adult

Fig. 9: Larva

Fig. 9: Larva

Adult Recognition

FWL: 7.0-10.0 mm

The forewing pattern of A. variegana is variable; Bradley et al. (1973) lists eight forms as occuring in the United Kingdom. Powell (1964) describes three distinct phenotypes found in western North America: 1) forewing white on inner half with a dark dorsal triangle, outer half dark-purplish; 2) forewing divided into white basal and blue-black or purplish distal area; 3) and forewing ground color tan with a basal dorsal triangle and purplish outer costal triangle. Males lack a forewing costal fold.

Acleris variegana may appear similar to certain forms of other Acleris species, including A. keiferi, A. maculidorsana, and A. robinsoniana in North America and A. permutana in Europe. A genitalic dissection can be used to confirm identity.

Larval Morphology

Larvae are yellowish or light green. The head is brown and the prothoracic shield is concolorous with the abdomen. Legs are brown or pale. Most individuals exhibit a black spot located laterally on the head and a dark posterolateral mark on each side of the prothoracic shield.

Biology

Acleris variegana completes two generations per year in North America. Adults fly from April to July and again from August to November. Overwintering occurs as a second generation adult.

Eggs are laid singly or in small batches on leaves of the host plant. Early instar larvae tie together two leaves and skeletonize them from the inside; later instars consume the entire leaf. Pupation occurs in the larval shelter or among dead leaves on the ground.

Host plants

Larvae have been recorded feeding on a variety of host plants, primarily those in the family Rosaceae.

Family Genus/species Common name
Berberidaceae Berberis vulgaris L. common barberry
Betulaceae Carpinus betulus L. European hornbeam
Betulaceae Corylus avellana L. common filbert
Ericaceae Vaccinium L. blueberry
Rosacae Sanguisorba minor Scop. small burnet
Rosaceae Cotoneaster Medik. cotoneaster
Rosaceae Crataegus L. hawthorn
Rosaceae Dasiphora fruticosa (L.) Rydb. ssp. floribunda (Pursh) Kartesz shrubby cinquefoil
Rosaceae Malus domestica Borkh. apple
Rosaceae Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill. European crab apple
Rosaceae Prunus armeniaca L. apricot
Rosaceae Prunus avium (L.) L. sweet cherry
Rosaceae Prunus domestica L. European plum
Rosaceae Prunus L.
Rosaceae Prunus spinosa L. blackthorn
Rosaceae Pyracantha M. Roem. firethorn
Rosaceae Pyrus communis L. common pear
Rosaceae Pyrus L. pear
Rosaceae Rosa californica Cham. & Schltdl. California wildrose
Rosaceae Rosa L. rose
Rosaceae Rubus idaeus L. American red raspberry
Rosaceae Rubus L. blackberry
Rosaceae Rubus ursinus Cham. & Schltdl. California blackberry
Rosaceae Sorbus aucuparia L. European mountain ash
Solanaceae Solanum lycopersicum L. var. lycopersicum garden tomato
Ulmaceae Ulmus L. elm

Distribution

Acleris variegana is widely distributed throughout Europe, northwestern Africa, central Asia, and China. It was first reported from North America in the early 1900's where it is present on the East and West Coasts.

References

Bradley, J. D., W. G. Tremewan and A. Smith. 1973. British Tortricoid Moths - Cochylidae and Tortricidae: Tortricinae. The Ray Society, London, England.

Obraztsov, N. S. 1963. Some North American moths of the genus Acleris. Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 114: 213-270.

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.

Powell, J. A. and P. A. Opler. 2009. Moths of western North America. University of California Press, Berkeley. 369 pp.

Razowski, J. 2002. Tortricidae of Europe, Vol. 1, Tortricinae and Chlidanotinae. Frantisek Slamka, Slovakia. 247 pp.

Photo Credits

Fig. 7: Csaba Szaboky, Bugwood.org

Fig. 8: Gyorgy Csoka, Hungary Forest Research Institute, Bugwood.org

Tortricids of Agricultural Importance by Todd M. Gilligan and Marc E. Epstein
Interactive Keys developed in Lucid 3.5. Last updated August 2014.