Acleris holmiana

Status

ADVENTIVE

PORT INTERCEPT | DOMESTIC SURVEY

Taxonomy

Acleris holmiana (Linnaeus) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Tortricini)

Adult Recognition

FWL: 5.5-8.0 mm

Adults are yellowish brown to orange or red with a conspicuous, white, semitriangular costal patch. Males lack a forewing costal fold.

Male genitalia are characterized by a reduced uncus and elongate valva with an apical membranous lobe. Female genitalia are characterized by a small corpus bursae with a single scobinate signum.

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.].

Last instar larvae are yellowish to pale green. The head is light brown to reddish brown with black posterior shading. The prothoracic shield is black or dark brown with black posterolateral margins. An anal comb is present.

Similar Species

Clepsis persicana and some aberrant individuals of Archips argyrospila can appear similar to Acleris holmiana, but they can be easily distinguished by their larger size and presence of a forewing costal fold in the male. The genitalia of all three species are distinct. Acleris holmiana has been collected in large numbers as a non-target during Epiphyas postvittana pheromone trap surveys conducted in Washington.

Distribution

A native of Europe and Asia Minor, Acleris holmiana was discovered in North America (British Columbia) in 1977. It was first detected in the United States (Washington) in 1994. It has apparently not spread outside of the Pacific Northwest.

Biology

In North America, Acleris holmiana completes two, and possibly three, generations per year. Adults are present in May and again in June and July. Larvae create a shelter by webbing together two leaves at their margins. Pupation occurs in the larval shelter. Overwintering occurs in the egg stage.

This species is a minor pest of fruit trees (Rosaceae) in Europe. In addition to Rosaceae, it has been recorded feeding on Solanum rostratum Dunal (Solanaceae) in Washington.

Plant Associations

View full screen host table here

Links

Additional photos and distribution map in North America available at Moth Photographers Group.