Adult Recognition
FWL: 8.5-10.5 mm (male); 10.0-11.0 mm (female)
Forewings are orange basally, becoming darker and purplish towards the pale termen. Most individuals have a well-defined white costal triangle, although this marking is reduced in some western phenotypes. Males have a long forewing costal fold that extends to nearly half the length of the costa.
Forewing pattern is sufficient to distinguish adults of this species from other Nearctic Tortricidae.
Larval Morphology
Last instar larvae are approximately 14-18 mm long with a pale green abdomen. The head and prothoracic shield are yellowish brown and unmarked. An anal comb is present. Larvae of Clepsis persicana may be confused with a number of other tortricid larvae, including those of Clepsis, Argyrotaenia, Choristoneura, and Epiphyas postvittana.
Biology
Clepsis persicana completes a single generation per year. Adults are present from June to August.
Eggs are laid in overlapping patches on the upper surface of leaves or on smooth bark. Newly hatched larvae are incapable of constructing their own shelters and lower themselves on a silk thread searching for abandonded shelters of other tortricid species, such as Spilonota ocellana. If a suitable shelter is not found, larvae will descend to the ground and feed on cover plants for the remainder of the summer and autumn. Mid-instar larvae overwinter and complete development in the spring, where they may ascend trees or other woody plants. Larvae can cause damage to fruit by webbing leaves to the fruit or feeding in the calyx. Pupation occurs under bark or in fallen leaves near the base of a tree.
Host plants
Larvae are general feeders and have been recorded from over 40 species of deciduous and coniferous trees. Although Fitch described C. persicana from larvae he reared on peach (Prunus persica), this plant is not thought to be a primary host.
| Family | Genus/species | Common name |
| Aceraceae | Acer negundo L. | boxelder |
| Aceraceae | Acer L. | maple |
| Apiaceae | Osmorhiza berteroi DC. | sweetcicely |
| Asteraceae | Solidago L. | goldenrod |
| Betulaceae | Alnus incana (L.) Moench | gray alder |
| Betulaceae | Alnus viridis (Chaix) DC. | green alder |
| Betulaceae | Alnus viridis (Chaix) DC. ssp. crispa (Aiton) Turrill | mountain alder |
| Betulaceae | Alnus Mill. | alder |
| Betulaceae | Betula nana L. | dwarf birch |
| Betulaceae | Betula papyrifera Marshall | paper birch |
| Betulaceae | Betula L. | birch |
| Betulaceae | Corylus L. | hazelnut |
| Cornaceae | Cornus canadensis L. | bunchberry dogwood |
| Ericaceae | Rhododendron canadense (L.) Torr. | rhodora |
| Ericaceae | Vaccinium L. | blueberry |
| Gentianaceae | Frasera fastigiata (Pursh) A. Heller | clustered green gentian |
| Gentianaceae | Frasera Walter | green gentian |
| Grossulariaceae | Ribes L. | currant |
| Liliaceae | Maianthemum canadense Desf. | Canada mayflower |
| Myrtaceae | Comptonia peregrina (L.) J. M. Coult. | sweet fern |
| Oleaceae | Fraxinus L. | ash |
| Pinaceae | Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. | balsam fir |
| Pinaceae | Abies concolor (Gord. & Glend.) Lindl. ex Hildebr. | white fir |
| Pinaceae | Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. | subalpine fir |
| Pinaceae | Abies Mill. | fir |
| Pinaceae | Larix occidentalis Nutt. | western larch |
| Pinaceae | Larix Mill. | larch |
| Pinaceae | Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm. | Engelmann spruce |
| Pinaceae | Picea glauca (Moench) Voss | white spruce |
| Pinaceae | Picea A. Dietr. | spruce |
| Pinaceae | Pinus banksiana Lamb. | jack pine |
| Pinaceae | Pinus L. | pine |
| Pinaceae | Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco | Douglas-fir |
| Pinaceae | Pseudostuga Carriere | Douglas-fir |
| Rhamnaceae | Ceanothus L. | ceanothus |
| Rosaceae | Malus pumila Mill. | paradise apple |
| Rosaceae | Prunus persica (L.) Batsch | peach |
| Rosaceae | Prunus virginiana L. | chokecherry |
| Rosaceae | Prunus L. | |
| Rosaceae | Rosa L. | rose |
| Rosaceae | Rubus L. | blackberry |
| Salicaceae | Populus balsamifera L. | balsam poplar |
| Salicaceae | Populus balsamifera L. ssp. trichocarpa (Torr. & A. Gray ex Hook.) Brayshaw | black cottonwood |
| Salicaceae | Populus tremuloides Michx. | quaking aspen |
| Salicaceae | Populus L. | cottonwood |
| Salicaceae | Salix L. | willow |
| Ulmaceae | Ulmus L. | elm |
Distribution
Clepsis persicana is distributed from the northeastern United States west across southern Canada and the northern United States to British Columbia, and south to California and the Rocky Mountains.
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.
Freeman, T. N. 1958. The Archipinae of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). The Canadian Entomologist Supplement 7 (Vol. 90): 1-89.
MacKay, M. R. 1962. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). The Canadian Entomologist Supplement 28: 1-182.
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.
Razwoski, J. 1979. Revision of the genus Clepsis Guenee (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae). Part I. Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia. 23: 101-198.
