Acleris hastiana

Status

EXOTIC

PORT INTERCEPT | DOMESTIC SURVEY

Taxonomy

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)Gilligan et al. (2018):
Gilligan, T. M., Baixeras, J., Brown, J. W. 2018. T@RTS: Online World Catalogue of the Tortricidae (Ver. 4.0). http://www.tortricid.net/catalogue.asp [accessed 8 October 2020]..

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.

Adult Recognition

FWL: 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 fold.

Male genitalia are characterized by a weakly developed uncus; large, lobe-like socii; and rectangular valvae with a well-developed sacculus. Female genitalia are characterized by a sterigma with large, triangular anterolateral lobes; cestum absent in ductus bursae; signum present as a stellate patch.

Larval Morphology

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 shield is concolorous with the abdomen. In earlier instars, the head and prothoracic shield are black.

Similar Species

Acleris hastiana is similar to A. pulverosana and, until recently, were thought to be the same species. Minor differences in the genitalia of the two taxa were discussed by Obraztsov (1963)Obraztsov (1963):
Obraztsov, N. S. 1963. Some North American moths of the genus Acleris . Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 114: 213-270. but were treated as a single species. In addition to genetic differences, the two species can be separated by range: A. pulverosana is restricted to North America and A. hastiana is restricted to Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

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.

Distribution

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.).

Biology

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.

Plant Associations

View full screen host table here