Clostera

Samouelle, 1819

Species Guides

Clostera albosigma(sigmoid prominent)
Clostera apicalis(apical prominent)
Clostera brucei(Bruce's Chocolate-tip Moth)
Clostera inclusa(angle-lined prominent moth)
Clostera inornata
Clostera jocosa
Clostera multnoma
Clostera ornata
Clostera paraphora

Clostera is a of in the Notodontidae, Pygaerinae, containing approximately 30 described distributed across the Holarctic and Oriental regions. Multiple species, including C. anachoreta, C. anastomosis, C. fulgurita, and C. cupreata, are recognized as significant defoliators of poplar (Populus) trees in forestry contexts across China, India, Europe, and Japan. The genus has been extensively studied for its economic impact and as a target for and Bt toxin research.

Clostera paraphora by (c) Laura Gaudette, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Laura Gaudette. Used under a CC-BY license.

Clostera brucei by (c) Doug Macaulay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Doug Macaulay. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Clostera: /ˈklɒstərə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Habitat

Associated with poplar woods and plantations; such as C. anachoreta, C. anastomosis, C. fulgurita, and C. cupreata have been documented specifically in Populus-dominated environments.

Distribution

Documented from China, Europe, Japan, India, and North America (Vermont, US); includes Scandinavian records (Denmark, Norway, Sweden). Distribution varies by : C. anachoreta occurs in China, Europe, Japan, and India; C. fulgurita in Punjab, India; C. inclusa in North America.

Diet

Larval feeding on Populus (poplars) has been documented for C. anachoreta, C. anastomosis, C. fulgurita, and C. cupreata; specific diet breadth for other is not established.

Host Associations

Populus - larval plantDocumented for multiple including C. anachoreta, C. anastomosis, C. fulgurita, and C. cupreata

Life Cycle

For C. anastomosis: peak female occurs on day 6 after , peak male emergence on day 7; oviposition primarily within 3 days after mating, with 49.8% of deposited on the first day. C. inclusa is multivoltine.

Behavior

C. anastomosis exhibits in and ; courtship begins at the sixth hour of scotophase, peaking between the 10th hour of scotophase and first hour of photophase; mating success highest for 1-day-old females, declining to zero by day 4. C. inclusa larvae are tentmakers.

Ecological Role

Defoliator of poplar trees; serves as for including Aleoides percurrens (larval parasitoid) and Ooencyrtus ennomophagus ( parasitoid); preyed upon by Canthecona furcellata.

Human Relevance

Significant forestry pest causing defoliation of poplar plantations; target of research using natural enemies (Canthecona furcellata, Aleoides percurrens) and Bt Cry1Ac toxin studies; C. inclusa used as factitious for rearing .

More Details

Research Significance

Clostera are important model organisms for studying insect-plant interactions, Bt toxin resistance mechanisms, and . C. anachoreta transcriptome analysis identified candidate genes (HSC70, GNB2L/RACK1, PNLIP, BI1-like, arylphorin type 2, PKM) and the PI3K-Akt as potentially involved in Cry1Ac toxin response and recovery.

Natural Enemies

Documented biocontrol agents include the Canthecona furcellata (optimum temperature 15-20°C) and the braconid larval Aleoides percurrens (optimum temperature 20-25°C), both - dependent. The encyrtid parasitoid Ooencyrtus ennomophagus has been reared on C. inclusa eggs.