Acleris pulverosana (Walker) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Tortricini)
Based on DNA sequence data, Gilligan et al. (2020b)Gilligan 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. considered North American populations of Acleris hastiana to be distinct from Palearctic populations and applied the name pulverosana Walker to the North American populations.
Note: Some of the photos of this species on this page may be of A. hastiana, formerly considered a senior synonym of A. pulverosana (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.
FWL: 7.0–9.5 mm
Acleris pulverosana is a highly variable species with many different forms, making identification of adults difficult. According to Powell (1964), California individuals usually have uniform brown, black, or dull-red forewings with a gray basal band.
Both male and female genitalia are extremely similar to those of A. hastiana.
The following account is summarized from MacKay 1962aMacKay 1962a:
MacKay, M. R. 1962a. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 28: 1-182..
Mature larva 14 mm in length; width of head 1.5 mm; head brownish yellow with darker lateral pigmentation; prothoracic shield and body pale green; pinacula conspicuous, moderate in size; anal fork present with 7–9 spines; SV group on A1, 2, 7, 8, 9 typically 3:3:2:2:2.
Acleris pulverosana is similar to A. hastiana 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. There are several other species of Acleris which could be confused with these two species, but they can be usually separated by characters of the genitalia.
Acleris pulverosana is distributed from the northeastern United States across southern Canada to British Columbia and south to California.
Very little is known about the life cycle of Acleris pulverosana beyond known host plants. This is likely due to it being considered synonymous with A. hastiana for a long time. There appear to be at least two generations per year in the southern portions of its range.
Acleris pulverosana has been recorded (as A. hastiana) feeding on Andromeda, Betula, Ceanothus, Myrica, Populus, Quercus, Rhododendron, and Salix.
View full screen host table here
Authors: KA Austin, TM Gilligan, ME Epstein
Content last updated May 2025
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