Exotic
Acleris hastiana (Linnaeus) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Tortricini)
Synonyms: a highly variable forewing pattern has led to the description of over 125 synonyms, including many forms, aberrations, and varieties. For a full list, see Gilligan et al. (2018).
Note: Some of the photos of this species on this page may be of Acleris pulverosana, formerly considered a synonym of A. hastiana (see Gilligan et al. 2020bGilligan et al. 2020b:
Gilligan T. M., Brown, J. W., Baixeras, J. 2020b. Immigrant Tortricidae: Holarctic versus Introduced Species in North America. Insects. 11(9): 1-59.). Both species share many of the same color morphs and the genitalia of both sexes are extremely similar.
FWLFWL:
forewing length; the distance from the base of the forewing to the apex, including fringe
: 7.0-9.5 mm
This is possibly the most polymorphic tortricid, with over 100 named forms representing different phenotypes. It would be nearly impossible to describe the full range of variation, but forewing patterns can be broadly divided into those with longitudinal markings and those with transverse markings, although many forms show a combination of these two classes. Males lack a forewing costal foldforewing costal fold:
a flap or fold at the base of the forewing that contains specialized sex scales
.
Male genitalia are characterized by a weakly developed uncusuncus:
a sclerotized process which is fused to the posterodorsal margin of tergum IX
; large, lobe-like sociisocii:
a pair of lightly sclerotized setose lobes
; and rectangular valvaevalva:
an appendage flanking the intromittent organ that is used to clasp the female during copulation
with a well-developed sacculussacculus:
the ventral margin of the male valva 
. Female genitalia are characterized by a sterigmasterigma:
the sclerotized region surrounding the female ostium bursae 
with large, triangular anterolateral lobes; cestumcestum:
a long, bandlike sclerotization of the wall of the ductus bursae
absent in ductus bursaeductus bursae:
a membranous tube connecting the ostium bursae to the corpus bursae
; signumsignum:
a sclerotized projection or patch on the interior of the corpus bursae
present as a stellate patch.
The following account is summarized from Swatschek (1958)Swatschek (1958):
Swatschek, B. 1958. Die larval systematik der wickler (Tortricidae und Carposinidae) aus dem zoologischen Institut der Universitat Erlangen. Akademie-Verlag, Berlin. 269 pp. [Abhandlungen zur larvalsystematik Insekten 3.].
Late instar larvae are pale green or yellow with a brownish-yellow head and pale thoracic legs. The prothoracic shieldprothoracic shield:
a sclerotized plate on the dorsal surface of the prothorax 
is concolorous with the abdomen. In earlier instars, the head and prothoracic shieldprothoracic shield:
a sclerotized plate on the dorsal surface of the prothorax are black.
Acleris hastiana can be confused with other species of Acleris due to its highly variable forewing pattern, including A. abietana (Hübner), A. aspersana (Hübner), A. cristana (Denis & Schiffermüller), A. shepherdana (Stephens) and A. umbrana (Hübner). Although it may be possible to diagnose A. hastiana using only wing pattern, a genitalic dissection should be used to confirm identity. Razowski (2002)Razowski (2002):
Razowski, J. 2002. Tortricidae of Europe, Vol. 1, Tortricinae and Chlidanotinae. Frantisek Slamka, Slovakia. 247 pp. illustrates differences in genitalia that can be used to separate A. hastiana from other similar European Acleris.
The following account is summarized from Sheldon (1923)Sheldon (1923):
Sheldon, W. G. 1923. Peronea hastiana L.: its distribution, habits, life cycles and variations. Entomologist. 56: 75-81, 100-104, 128-131, 149-153, 173-178, 197-202, 221-226, 248-252, 269-271..
Acleris hastiana completes one or two generations. Adults are present in June and July and again in August through October. Overwintering occurs as a second generation adult. Females deposit individual eggs on bark or branches in the spring (first generation) and on terminal shoots in the summer (second generation). First instar larvae bore into buds. Later instars feed within shelters constructed by webbing together terminal leaves. Pupation occurs in a flimsy silken cocoon that is constructed in folded or webbed leaves or on the ground.
Willow (Salix spp.) appears to be the preferred host plant, but A. hastiana has also been recorded feeding on several other plants, including Andromeda, Populus, and Prunus.
| Host plant | Host plant family | Reference(s) |
| Andromeda polifolia | Ericaceae | Disque 1908Disque 1908: Disque, H. 1908. Versuch einer microlepidopterologischen Botanik. Deutsch Entomologische Zeitschrift Iris. 21: 34-147. |
| Prunus sp. | Rosaceae | Bradley et al. 1973Bradley et al. 1973: Bradley, J. D., Tremewan, W. G., Smith, A. 1973. British Tortricoid Moths, Cochylidae and Tortricidae: Tortricinae. The Ray Society, London. 251 pp. |
| Populus alba | Salicaceae | Bradley et al. 1973Bradley et al. 1973: Bradley, J. D., Tremewan, W. G., Smith, A. 1973. British Tortricoid Moths, Cochylidae and Tortricidae: Tortricinae. The Ray Society, London. 251 pp. |
| Populus sp. | Salicaceae | Meyrick MS 1938Meyrick MS 1938: Meyrick MS 1938. Unpublished manuscript by E. Meyrick at BMNH, data captured by Gaeden Robinson.; Swatschek 1958Swatschek 1958: Swatschek, B. 1958. Die larval systematik der wickler (Tortricidae und Carposinidae) aus dem zoologischen Institut der Universitat Erlangen. Akademie-Verlag, Berlin. 269 pp. [Abhandlungen zur larvalsystematik Insekten 3.] |
| Salix aurita | Salicaceae | Bradley et al. 1973Bradley et al. 1973: Bradley, J. D., Tremewan, W. G., Smith, A. 1973. British Tortricoid Moths, Cochylidae and Tortricidae: Tortricinae. The Ray Society, London. 251 pp. |
| Salix caprea | Salicaceae | Allen 1983Allen 1983: Allen, A. A. 1983. Acleris hastiana L. bred from Salix caprea in Surrey. Entomologistrsquo;s Record and Journal of Variation. 95: 132. |
| Salix cinerea | Salicaceae | Jaros & Spitzer 2002 |
| Salix fragilis | Salicaceae | Bradley et al. 1973Bradley et al. 1973: Bradley, J. D., Tremewan, W. G., Smith, A. 1973. British Tortricoid Moths, Cochylidae and Tortricidae: Tortricinae. The Ray Society, London. 251 pp. |
| Salix repens | Salicaceae | Bradley et al. 1973Bradley et al. 1973: Bradley, J. D., Tremewan, W. G., Smith, A. 1973. British Tortricoid Moths, Cochylidae and Tortricidae: Tortricinae. The Ray Society, London. 251 pp. |
| Salix sp. | Salicaceae | Disque 1908Disque 1908: Disque, H. 1908. Versuch einer microlepidopterologischen Botanik. Deutsch Entomologische Zeitschrift Iris. 21: 34-147.; Benander 1964Benander 1964: Benander, P. 1964. Notes on the larvae of Swedish Micro-Lepidoptera. I. Opusc. Ent. 29: 266-272.; Bradley et al. 1973Bradley et al. 1973: Bradley, J. D., Tremewan, W. G., Smith, A. 1973. British Tortricoid Moths, Cochylidae and Tortricidae: Tortricinae. The Ray Society, London. 251 pp.; Sheldon 1923Sheldon 1923: Sheldon, W. G. 1923. Peronea hastiana L.: its distribution, habits, life cycles and variations. Entomologist. 56: 75-81, 100-104, 128-131, 149-153, 173-178, 197-202, 221-226, 248-252, 269-271.; Emmet 1992Emmet 1992: Emmet, A.M. 1992. Life history and habits of the British Lepidoptera. Pp. 61-300. In : Emmet, A.M., Heath, J. (eds.), The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, 7. 400 pp., Harley Books, Colchester.; Kawabe & Ijima 1985 |
View full screen host table here
Acleris hastiana is Palearctic in distribution and has been collected across Europe and Asia to Japan. It is also known from North Africa. Specimens from North America previously identified as A. hastiana are now treated as A. pulverosana (Gilligan et al. 2020bGilligan et al. 2020b:
Gilligan T. M., Brown, J. W., Baixeras, J. 2020b. Immigrant Tortricidae: Holarctic versus Introduced Species in North America. Insects. 11(9): 1-59.).
