Clepsis melaleucanus

Status

NATIVE

DOMESTIC SURVEY

Taxonomy

Clepsis melaleucanus (Walker) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)

Common name: black-patched Clepsis moth

Synonyms: biustulana (Lozotaenia), invexana (Conchylis), semifuscana (Ptycholoma)

Adult Recognition

FWL: 8.5–11.0 mm

Forewings are pale yellow with variable brown to yellowish-brown markings that may be suffused with bluish-gray scales. Most individuals have a large dark-brown patch in the area of the median fascia that is not continuous to the costa. Males have a forewing costal fold.

Male genitalia are characterized by a short, broad uncus; a well-developed gnathos; an incomplete transtilla divided into two spined lobes; and membranous valvae. Female genitalia are characterized by a well-sclerotized, cylindrical sterigma; long, loosely coiled ductus bursae with cestum present; and a dagger-like signum present in the corpus bursae.

Larval Morphology

The following account is summarized from MacKay (1962a)MacKay (1962a):
MacKay, M. R. 1962a. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 28: 1-182..

Mature larvae 12–19 mm in length; width of head 1.1–1.2 mm; head brownish yellow, darker laterally; prothoracic shield concolorous with head, darker laterally; legs yellowish; body, anal shield yellowish green; anal fork well-developed; SV group A1, 2, 7, 8, 9 numbering 3:3:3:2:2.

Detailed figures of larval chaetotaxy are available in MacKay (1962a)MacKay (1962a):
MacKay, M. R. 1962a. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 28: 1-182..

Similar Species

Well marked individuals are unlikely to be confused with any other Nearctic Clepsis. A genitalic dissection can be used to confirm identity.

Distribution

Clepsis melaleucanus is distributed from the northeastern United States and southern Canada west to Minnesota and Alberta and south to North Carolina. It has been reported from England (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.) but is currently not established outside of North America.

Biology

The following account is summarized from Chapman and Lienk (1971)Chapman and Lienk (1971):
Chapman, P. J., Lienk, S. E. 1971. Tortricid fauna of apple in New York (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae); including an account of apple's occurrence in the state, especially as a naturalized plant. Spec. Publ. Geneva, NY: New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. 122 pp..

Clepsis melaleucanus completes a single generation per year. Adults are present in June and July. Last instar larvae feeding on low growth of various plants in May and June. Overwintering may occur as a late instar larva in the ground cover.

Although its primary host(s) are unknown, larvae of C. melaleucanus have been recorded feeding on the following plants.

Plant Associations

View full screen host table here

Links

Additional photos and a distribution map of this species in North America are available at Moth Photographers Group.