Clepsis persicana (Fitch) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)
Common names: white triangle tortrix, green needleworm
Synonyms: blandana (Ditula), conigerana (Tortrix), fragariana (Lozotaenia)
Subspecies: C. persicana forbesi (British Columbia)
FWL: 8.5–10.5 mm (male); 10.0–11.0 mm (female)
Forewings are orange basally, becoming darker and purplish towards the pale termen. Most individuals have a well-defined white costal triangle, although this marking is reduced in some western phenotypes. Males have a long forewing costal fold that extends to nearly half the length of the costa.
Male genitalia are characterized by a large, bulbous uncus; an incomplete, spined transtilla; and small, membranous valvae. Female genitalia are characterized by a long ductus bursae without a cestum; and a small, dagger-like signum in the corpus bursae with a robust capitulum.
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 approximately 14–18 mm in length; width of head averaging 1.1–1.2 mm; head, thoracic shield brownish yellow; body pale green; anal fork well-developed; SV group on 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..
Acleris holmiana is superficially similar to Clepsis persicana, but can be distinguished by the absence of a male forewing costal fold. With this lone exception, forewing pattern is sufficient to distinguish adults of C. persicana from all other Nearctic Tortricidae.
Larvae of C. persicana may be confused with a number of other tortricid larvae, including those of Clepsis, Argyrotaenia, Choristoneura, and Epiphyas postvittana.
Clepsis persicana is distributed from the northeastern United States west across southern Canada and the northern United States to British Columbia, and south to California and the Rocky Mountains. A disjunct population occurs in the southern Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee.
The following account is summarized from Powell (1964b)Powell (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. and 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 persicana completes a single generation per year. Adults are present from June to August. Eggs are laid in overlapping patches on the upper surface of leaves or on smooth bark. Newly hatched larvae are incapable of constructing their own shelters and lower themselves on a silk thread searching for abandoned shelters of other tortricid species, such as Spilonota ocellana. If a suitable shelter is not found, larvae will descend to the ground and feed on cover plants for the remainder of the summer and autumn. Mid-instar larvae overwinter and complete development in the spring, where they may ascend trees or other woody plants. Larvae can cause damage to fruit by webbing leaves to the fruit or feeding in the calyx. Pupation occurs under bark or in fallen leaves near the base of a tree.
Larvae are generalists and have been recorded from over 40 species of deciduous and coniferous trees. Although Fitch (1856)Fitch (1856):
Fitch, A. 1856. Third report on the noxious and other insects of the state of New York. Albany. described C. persicana from larvae he reared on peach (Prunus persica), this plant is not thought to be a primary host.
View full screen host table here
Authors: KA Austin, TM Gilligan, ME Epstein
Content last updated May 2025
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