Small Straw Twist
Common NameSmall Straw Twist
Scientific NameClepsis spectrana
FamilyTortricidae
SubfamilyTortricinae
Wingspan (mm)19
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorslight brown, straw, dark brown
HabitatGardens, hedgerows, woodlands, orchards, cultivated land
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia, introduced to North America (Pacific Northwest)
Host Plantsraspberry, apple, currant, strawberry, willow, nettle
Flight PeriodMay to July, and August to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are polyphagous leaf-rollers, feeding on a wide range of plants. They overwinter as larvae and pupate in a silken cocoon within a rolled leaf.
Identification TipsLook for the straw-colored forewings with a distinct dark brown triangular or trapezoidal patch near the tornus (outer corner) and a diagonal brown band across the wing. The overall cryptic pattern helps it blend with bark or dry vegetation.
Description
A small, straw-colored moth with mottled light and dark brown markings on its forewings, including a prominent dark brown patch near the outer margin and a diagonal band. Its wings are held in a characteristic roof-like manner when at rest.
