49.0388 Clepsis peritana (Garden Tortrix)
ws: ♂10-15mm, ♀12-15mm (Wikipedia), fw: 4.5-7.5mm (TortAI); Mar-Sep; widespread in N.America, accidentally introduced to Europe in the 1980s where it has been recorded in Spain, Italy and Denmark. Its native larval foodplants are chrysanthemum, artichoke thistle (Cynara cardunculus), ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), woundworts (Stachys spp), strawberry (Fragaria spp), citrus fruit trees, California figwort (Scrophularia californica), turkey berry (Solanum torvum); new to Britain Staffordshire July 2023.
Clepsis peritana §1 male (image provided by Daniel Blyton)
ID: Small size and distinctive forewing markings should be sufficient to identify this species. Forewing brown with a darker brown median fascia and pre-apical costal spot. The proximal border of the median fascia is well-marked, straight and oblique (extending distally from costa to dorsum) and is edged proximally by a whitish line; its distal border is more diffuse; in some specimens the costal end of the fascia is a shade darker. A partial subbasal fascia is indicated by a variable dark brown subdorsal streak. There is a variable degree of reticulation of the remainder of the forewing with narrow transverse/oblique dark brown lines. Females have less distinct markings than males.
Male genitalia: Has the bulbous spined transtilla similar to that of other Clepsis spp. The elongate spatulate uncus is diagnostic.
Female genitalia:
Male genitalia: Has the bulbous spined transtilla similar to that of other Clepsis spp. The elongate spatulate uncus is diagnostic.
Female genitalia:
§1 Earles Colne, Essex; 07/09/2023; male; fw 5.7mm; 2nd For Britain; specimen obtained by Daniel Blyton
All images © Chris Lewis
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 19/09/2023 (§1)
