Tortricidae

49.0388 Clepsis peritana (Clemens, 1860)

Immigrant?

Similar species: Clepsis spectrana is larger (7.5 to 11mm) with a dark basal streak on the leading edge of the forewing and a longer narrow streak (rather than rounded) in the outer area of the leading edge.

Forewing: 4.5 to 7.5mm (females larger than males)

Habitats: Scrub, hedgerows, wasteground and gardens. It was first recorded in Britain in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire on 20th July 2023. It is a native to Canada. Its range now extends as far south east as Florida and in the west to Ecuador. It has been increasing its distribution in Europe after it was discovered in Denmark in 1987, and is now found north to Norway across to Austria and at least as far south as Spain and Italy.

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The polyphagous larva has been recorded in Europe feeding from a silk tube attached to dead and decaying leaves of strawberries, Potato, Poinsettia, Lima Bean, citrus and other species. It will occasionally attack live buds and fruit.