Clepsis

Guenée, 1845

Garden Tortrix Moth (C. peritana), Banded Ivy Tortrix (C. dumicolana)

Clepsis is a of established by Guenée in 1845. The genus includes several economically significant , most notably Clepsis peritana (Garden Tortrix) and Clepsis dumicolana (Banded Ivy Tortrix). Members are characterized by larval , where spin together leaves to create protective shelters. The genus has a broad geographic distribution spanning North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.

Clepsis peritana by (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Clepsis virescana by (c) Annika Lindqvist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Annika Lindqvist. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Clepsis: /ˈklɛp.sɪs/

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

Images

Habitat

vary by . Clepsis dumicolana occurs in urban parks and gardens with ivy (Hedera helix). Clepsis peritana has been observed in cottonwood groves with nearby wetlands in prairie habitats.

Distribution

Widespread across temperate regions. Clepsis dumicolana: Western Europe from Mediterranean Peninsulas north to Denmark and east to Istanbul; established in UK (West/South London, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire) since 2014. North records include Vermont and Colorado. GBIF records indicate presence in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Seasonality

Clepsis dumicolana May to October in the UK, with probable two peaking in May/June and September.

Diet

feed on leaves. Clepsis dumicolana larvae ivy leaves (Hedera helix) between spun-together leaves. Specific diet information for most other is not documented in available sources.

Host Associations

Hedera helix - larval ivy; confirmed for C. dumicolana

Life Cycle

Clepsis dumicolana: are flattened and -like, laid in small batches. are greyish with black and black prothoracic shield. are with fairly long cremastral projection, found among ivy attached to walls.

Behavior

Clepsis dumicolana is active by day, especially in afternoon, and comes to light. are attracted to pheromonal mixtures of (Z)-11-Tetradecenyl acetate and (E)-11-Tetradecenyl acetate.

Human Relevance

Several are agricultural or horticultural pests. Clepsis peritana is known as the Garden Tortrix. Clepsis dumicolana is an established non- species in the UK since 2014. The is frequently encountered in citizen science recording events and museum blacklighting surveys.

Similar Taxa

PlatynotaBoth are with ; Platynota stultana ( ) often recorded alongside Clepsis at blacklighting stations
CydiaSimilar size and ; Cydia latiferreana (Filbertworm) co-occurs with Clepsis at light traps but differs in pattern and larval preferences
Epiblema with similar small size and shape; Epiblema often show more contrasting wing patterns