Pale Tortrix
Common NamePale Tortrix
Scientific NameClepsis pallidana
FamilyTortricidae
SubfamilyTortricinae
Wingspan (mm)18
Primary Colorsyellow, brown
HabitatGardens, woodlands, hedgerows, grasslands
Geographic RangeEurope, Asia, North America
Host Plantswillow, poplar, birch, oak, rose, bramble, apple, clover
Flight PeriodMay to October (two generations)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae are polyphagous, feeding on a wide variety of deciduous trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, often rolling leaves. There are typically two generations per year, with pupation occurring within the rolled leaves.
Identification TipsKey identification features include the pale ground color of the forewings combined with the distinctive reticulated reddish-brown markings. The uniform pale hindwings are also a useful characteristic to differentiate it from similar species within the Tortricidae family.
Description
A small moth with pale yellow to straw-colored forewings, distinctly marked with irregular, reticulated reddish-brown or orange-brown bands and blotches. The hindwings are typically a uniform pale grayish-white.
