Choreutis diana

Hübner, 1819

Diana's choreutis moth, Inverness Twitcher

Choreutis diana is a small in the with a wingspan of 14–18 mm. It occurs across northern North America and most of Europe, though in Britain it is restricted to a single known site in Scotland. The exhibits distinct seasonal activity patterns that differ between regions, and its are specialized on several woody plants.

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Choreutis diana by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Choreutis diana: //kɔˈreʊtɪs diˈɑːnə//

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Identification

Small size (14–18 mm wingspan) distinguishes it from larger . In Britain, known only from Glen Affric, Highland Scotland, making geographic location a identification cue there. Accurate identification to level likely requires examination or molecular confirmation, as visual distinction from is not documented in available sources.

Images

Appearance

Small with wingspan 14–18 mm. Specific coloration and pattern details not described in available sources.

Habitat

Associated with stands of its larval plants: red alder (Alnus rubra), grey alder (Alnus incana), paper birch (Betula papyrifera), balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera), willow (Salix ), and cherry (Prunus species). construct silken webs on upper leaf surfaces. have been observed visiting thistle flowers.

Distribution

Northern North America and most of Europe. In Britain, restricted to a single known site at Glen Affric in the Highland region of Scotland. Distribution records include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Vermont (USA).

Seasonality

In Canada, active mid-April to mid-May, June, and July to September. In the United , adults on in July and August. recorded mid-June to late July in North America.

Diet

feed on leaves of red alder (Alnus rubra), grey alder (Alnus incana), paper birch (Betula papyrifera), balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera), willow (Salix ), and cherry (Prunus species). feeding unknown beyond visitation to thistle flowers.

Host Associations

Alnus rubra - larval red alder
Alnus incana - larval grey alder
Betula papyrifera - larval paper birch
Populus balsamifera - larval balsam poplar
Salix - larval willow
Prunus - larval cherry
Cirsium - nectar sourcethistle flowers visited by

Life Cycle

Larval stage occurs mid-June to late July in North America. are solitary that construct silken webs on upper leaf surfaces of plants, with retained within the web. details not documented. timing varies by region.

Behavior

constructs silken web on upper surface of leaf and remains solitary within this shelter. is caught and retained in the web. visit thistle flowers, presumably for nectar.

Ecological Role

functions as a on woody deciduous plants. Role in as for and not documented. Contribution to through leaf damage and deposition localized to individual plants.

Human Relevance

No documented economic or medical significance. Of potential interest to due to restricted British distribution. Not known to be a pest of cultivated plants.

Similar Taxa

Other Choreutis speciesSimilar small size and characteristics; accurate separation requires detailed examination or dissection

More Details

Nomenclatural note

The was first described by Jacob in 1819 as Tortrix diana, later transferred to Choreutis. Some sources cite authorship as Bradley, 1961, reflecting subsequent taxonomic revision rather than original description.

Conservation status in Britain

Extremely restricted distribution with single known site makes it vulnerable to local extinction, though formal assessment not documented in available sources.