Common Roller
Common NameCommon Roller
Scientific NameAcleris variegana
FamilyTortricidae
SubfamilyTortricinae
Wingspan (mm)15
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, cream, dark brown
HabitatGardens, orchards, woodlands, hedgerows, parks
Geographic RangeEurope, Asia, North America
Host Plantsrose, apple, hawthorn, willow, birch, elm, blackberry
Flight PeriodJuly to October
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are leaf-rollers, feeding inside spun or rolled leaves of host plants. Pupation occurs within the rolled leaf, and the species overwinters as an adult.
Identification TipsKey features include the distinctive mottled forewing pattern with a dark costal blotch, its small size, and its tendency to rest with wings forming a somewhat triangular shape.
Description
A small moth with forewings displaying a complex, mottled pattern of light cream, various shades of brown, and a prominent dark brown patch on the costa. The hindwings are typically plainer and greyish.
