Native
Clepsis virescana (Clemens) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)
Synonyms: glaucana (Lozotaenia), sescuplana (Tortrix)
Subspecies: C. virescana salebrosa (Mexico)
FWLFWL:
forewing length; the distance from the base of the forewing to the apex, including fringe
: 6.0-9.0 mm
Forewing color varies from grayish brown to yellow brown. Wing pattern is uniform across most individuals, with a dark costal spotcostal spot:
a patch of contrasting scales on the costa, usually a remnant of the postmedian or preterminal fascia 
and poorly-defined median fasciafascia:
a dark transverse band on the forewing
. Males have 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 finger-like uncusuncus:
a sclerotized process which is fused to the posterodorsal margin of tergum IX
; an incomplete, spined transtilla; two long cornuticornutus:
spines used to anchor the male vesica in the female bursa during copulation
in the aedeagusaedeagus:
the male intromittent organ (penis); see "phallus" 
; and a small membranous lobe on the apexapex:
the point furthest removed from the base or at the end of the costal area 
of the valvavalva:
an appendage flanking the intromittent organ that is used to clasp the female during copulation
. Female genitalia are characterized by a straight ductus bursaeductus bursae:
a membranous tube connecting the ostium bursae to the corpus bursae
without a cestumcestum:
a long, bandlike sclerotization of the wall of the ductus bursae
and a long, thornlike signumsignum:
a sclerotized projection or patch on the interior of the corpus bursae
in the corpus bursaecorpus bursae:
a dilated membranous sac at the anterior end of the bursa copulatrix
.
Although the larva of C. virescana has not been described, it is assumed to be morphologically similar to larvae of other Clepsis species such as C. peritana and C. fucana.
Clepsis fucana, C. penetralis, C. peritana, and C. virescana are all similar in appearance. Clepsis fucana is generally larger than the other three species and is found only on the West Coast. Clepsis penetralis has only been recorded from Colorado, Utah, and Vermont, although it may be misidentified in collections making its true distribution unknown. Clepsis peritana is the most commonly collected Clepsis, and it can be found throughout the United States and southern Canada. Clepsis virescana is generally larger than C. peritana and males possess a forewing costal foldforewing costal fold:
a flap or fold at the base of the forewing that contains specialized sex scales. The following table lists diagnostic features that can be used to separate these four Clepsis species:
| Clepsis species | FWLFWL: forewing length; the distance from the base of the forewing to the apex, including fringe |
Male forewing costal foldforewing costal fold: a flap or fold at the base of the forewing that contains specialized sex scales |
Male valvavalva: an appendage flanking the intromittent organ that is used to clasp the female during copulation membranous lobe |
Female ductus bursaeductus bursae: a membranous tube connecting the ostium bursae to the corpus bursae |
Female signumsignum: a sclerotized projection or patch on the interior of the corpus bursae |
Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fucana | 6.5-10.5 mm | absent | present as small lobe | straight | absent | West Coast |
| penetralis | 6.0-7.5 mm | absent | present as moderate lobe | weakly twisted | absent | Unknown; recorded from Colorado, Utah, and Vermont |
| peritana | 4.5-7.5 mm | absent | absent; entire apexapex: the point furthest removed from the base or at the end of the costal area is membranous |
tightly coiled | absent | United States and southern Canada |
| virescana | 6.0-9.0 mm | present | present as small lobe | straight | present | United States and southern Canada |
Little has been reported on the life history of this species. Adult capture records indicate that C. virescana is bivoltine in central California. Powell (1964b) reared larvae on fresh and decaying leaves of Prunus and Rosa and hypothesized that C. virescana may have feeding habits similar to those of C. peritana. In the laboratory, larvae completed development in September and October.
The only documented wild host is western chokecherry, although Powell and Opler (2009) state that the larvae will feed on various soft-leaf plants and decaying leaves.
| Host plant | Host plant family | Reference(s) |
|
Prunus virginiana var. demissa Prunus sp. Rosa sp. |
Rosaceae Rosaceae Rosaceae |
Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell 1964bPowell 1964b: Powel 1964b |
View full screen host table here
Clepsis virescana is widespread throughout North America, from Alaska, northern Ontario, and Nova Scotia south to southern California, Mexico, and Georgia.
