Exotic, but established
Acleris variegana (Denis & Schiffermüller) (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.)
FWLFWL:
forewing length; the distance from the base of the forewing to the apex, including fringe
: 7.0-10.0 mm
The forewing pattern of A. variegana is variable; Bradley et al. (1973) lists eight forms as occurring in the United Kingdom. Powell (1964b) describes three distinct phenotypes found in western North America: 1) forewing white on inner half with a dark dorsaldorsal:
upper, to the top, on the back 
triangle, outer half dark-purplish; 2) forewing divided into white basal and blue-black or purplish distaldistal:
farthest from body, distant from point of attachment
area; 3) and forewing ground color tan with a basal dorsaldorsal:
upper, to the top, on the back triangle and purplish outer costal triangle. 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 reduced uncusuncus:
a sclerotized process which is fused to the posterodorsal margin of tergum IX
; triangular, lobe-like sociisocii:
a pair of lightly sclerotized setose lobes
; elongate valvaevalva:
an appendage flanking the intromittent organ that is used to clasp the female during copulation
with a distinctly produced apexapex:
the point furthest removed from the base or at the end of the costal area 
; sacculussacculus:
the ventral margin of the male valva 
well-developed. Female genitalia characterized by sterigmasterigma:
the sclerotized region surrounding the female ostium bursae 
with long, rounded 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
; scobinatescobinate:
rasplike
signum present in corpus bursaecorpus bursae:
a dilated membranous sac at the anterior end of the bursa copulatrix
.
No detailed descriptions of larval chaetotaxychaetotaxy:
the arrangement of setae (in reference to Lepidoptera larvae), often depicted on a "setal map"
for A. variegana exist, but this species is likely similar to other species of Acleris. 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.].
Larvae are yellowish or light green. The head is brown and the prothoracic shieldprothoracic shield:
a sclerotized plate on the dorsal surface of the prothorax 
is concolorous with the abdomen. Legs are brown or pale. Most individuals exhibit a black spot located laterally on the head and a dark posterolateralposterolateral:
towards the rear and side; posterior and lateral 
mark on each side of the prothoracic shieldprothoracic shield:
a sclerotized plate on the dorsal surface of the prothorax .
Acleris variegana may appear similar to certain forms of other Acleris species, including A. keiferi Powell, A. maculidorsana (Clemens), and A. robinsoniana (Forbes) in North America and A. permutana (Duponchel) in Europe. A genitalic dissection can be used to confirm identity.
The following account is summarized from Powell (1964b).
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.
Larvae have been recorded feeding on a variety of host plants, primarily those in the family Rosaceae.
| Host plant | Host plant family | Reference(s) | ||||||
| Berberis vulgaris | Berberidaceae | 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. |
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| Carpinus betulus | Betulaceae | Disque 1908Disque 1908: Disque, H. 1908. Versuch einer microlepidopterologischen Botanik. Deutsch Entomologische Zeitschrift Iris. 21: 34-147. |
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| Corylus avellana | Betulaceae | 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. |
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| Vaccinium sp. | Ericaceae | 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. |
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| Sanguisorba minor | Rosacae | 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. |
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| Cotoneaster sp. | Rosaceae | Kennel 1908; Benander 1964Benander 1964: Benander, P. 1964. Notes on the larvae of Swedish Micro-Lepidoptera. I. Opusc. Ent. 29: 266-272.; Powell 1964bPowell 1964b: Powell, J. A. 1964b. Biological and taxonomic studies on tortricine moths, with reference to the species in California. University of California Publications in Entomology. Vol. 32. 317 pp. |
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| Crataegus sp. | Rosaceae | Kennel 1908; Meyrick MS 1938Meyrick MS 1938: Meyrick MS 1938. Unpublished manuscript by E. Meyrick at BMNH, data captured by Gaeden Robinson.; Powell 1964bPowell 1964b: Powell, J. A. 1964b. Biological and taxonomic studies on tortricine moths, with reference to the species in California. University of California Publications in Entomology. Vol. 32. 317 pp.; 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. |
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| Malus domestica | Rosaceae | Kennel 1908; Belosel'skaya 1925; Sylven 1958Sylven 1958: Sylven, E. 1958. Studies on fruit leaf tortricids (Lepidoptera), with special reference to the periodicity of the adult moths. Statens Vaxtskyddsanstalt, Meddelanden [Swedish State Plant Protection Institute Contributions] 11: 74, pp. 135-296. Stockholm. |
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| Malus sylvestris | 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.; Powell 1964bPowell 1964b: Powell, J. A. 1964b. Biological and taxonomic studies on tortricine moths, with reference to the species in California. University of California Publications in Entomology. Vol. 32. 317 pp. |
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| Potentilla fruticosa | Rosaceae | Benander 1964Benander 1964: Benander, P. 1964. Notes on the larvae of Swedish Micro-Lepidoptera. I. Opusc. Ent. 29: 266-272. |
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| Prunus armeniaca | Rosaceae | BMNH collectionBMNH collection: BMNH collection. Based on identified reared specimens in the collection of The Natural History Museum, London; identifications by staff of the Lepidoptera Section.; Powell 1964bPowell 1964b: Powell, J. A. 1964b. Biological and taxonomic studies on tortricine moths, with reference to the species in California. University of California Publications in Entomology. Vol. 32. 317 pp. |
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| Prunus avium | Rosaceae | Kennel 1908; Powell 1964aPowell 1964a: Powell, J. A. 1964a. A review of Griselda, with descriptions of a related new genus and two species (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist. 40: 85-97. |
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| Prunus domestica | Rosaceae | BMNH collectionBMNH collection: BMNH collection. Based on identified reared specimens in the collection of The Natural History Museum, London; identifications by staff of the Lepidoptera Section. |
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| Prunus sp. | Rosaceae | Prentice 1966Prentice 1966: Prentice, R. M. 1966. Vol. 4. Microlepidoptera. In : Forest Lepidoptera of Canada recorded by the Forest Insect Survey. Dept. For. Canada Publ. 1142: 543-840.; Powell 1964bPowell 1964b: Powell, J. A. 1964b. Biological and taxonomic studies on tortricine moths, with reference to the species in California. University of California Publications in Entomology. Vol. 32. 317 pp.; 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. |
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| Prunus spinosa | Rosaceae | Kennel 1908; 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.; Powell 1964bPowell 1964b: Powell, J. A. 1964b. Biological and taxonomic studies on tortricine moths, with reference to the species in California. University of California Publications in Entomology. Vol. 32. 317 pp. |
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| Pyracantha sp. | Rosaceae | Powell 1964bPowell 1964b: Powell, J. A. 1964b. Biological and taxonomic studies on tortricine moths, with reference to the species in California. University of California Publications in Entomology. Vol. 32. 317 pp., 2006 |
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| Pyrus communis | Rosaceae | Kennel 1908; Powell 1964bPowell 1964b: Powell, J. A. 1964b. Biological and taxonomic studies on tortricine moths, with reference to the species in California. University of California Publications in Entomology. Vol. 32. 317 pp. |
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| Pyrus 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. |
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| Rosa californica | Rosaceae | Powell 2006Powell 2006: Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA. |
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| Rosa sp. | Rosaceae | Disque 1908Disque 1908: Disque, H. 1908. Versuch einer microlepidopterologischen Botanik. Deutsch Entomologische Zeitschrift Iris. 21: 34-147.; Kennel 1908; 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.; Powell 1964bPowell 1964b: Powell, J. A. 1964b. Biological and taxonomic studies on tortricine moths, with reference to the species in California. University of California Publications in Entomology. Vol. 32. 317 pp., 2006 |
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| Rubus idaeus | Rosaceae | Jaros & Spitzer 2002 | ||||||
| Rubus 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. |
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| Rubus ursinus | Rosaceae | Powell 1964bPowell 1964b: Powell, J. A. 1964b. Biological and taxonomic studies on tortricine moths, with reference to the species in California. University of California Publications in Entomology. Vol. 32. 317 pp., 2006 |
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| Sorbus aucuparia | Rosaceae | Jaros & Spitzer 2002 | ||||||
