Clepsis spectrana

(Treitschke, 1830)

cyclamen tortrix, cabbage leafroller, straw-colored tortrix

Clepsis spectrana is a small tortricid native to Europe. The exhibits highly variable coloration but typically shows brownish forewings with distinctive dark markings at the costal edge. are active in two from late spring through early autumn. Larvae feed on a broad range of woody plants and cultivated crops including cabbage, earning the species recognition as an agricultural pest in some contexts.

Clepsis spectrana (5747583533) by Ben Sale from UK. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Clepsis spectrana - Cyclamen tortrix (40586508094) by Ilia Ustyantsev from Russia. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.

Clepsis spectrana FvL by Fvlamoen. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Clepsis spectrana: /ˈklɛpsɪs spɛkˈtrɑːnə/

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

Identification

Distinguished from similar Clepsis by the combination of square inner and oval outer dark spots on the forewing , plus the small round black spot behind the outer costal spot. The highly variable ground color requires examination of these consistent marking patterns rather than overall hue. Distinguished from C. peritana (garden tortrix) by specific spot arrangement and shape.

Images

Appearance

Small with wingspan of 16–22 mm. Forewing ground color highly variable, often brownish. Two dark spots present at costal edge: inner spot square, outer spot oval. Small round black spot typically positioned behind outer costal spot. Paler individuals display clear, fine brown crosslines. Hindwings brownish-white.

Distribution

Europe. Documented presence in Belgium with records from Brussels-Capital Region, Flemish Region, Walloon Region, and Antwerp province.

Seasonality

Two annually, flying from late April through September.

Diet

Larvae feed on various trees, shrubs, and cabbage.

Host Associations

cabbage - larval food plant source of 'cabbage leafroller'
various trees - larval food plantbroad range on woody plants
various shrubs - larval food plantbroad range on woody plants

Human Relevance

Recognized as an agricultural pest due to larval feeding on cabbage and other crops. Subject of range research in plant literature.

Similar Taxa

Clepsis peritanaSimilar size and general appearance; distinguished by specific forewing spot pattern (C. spectrana has square inner and oval outer costal spots with additional round black spot behind)
other Clepsis speciesVariable coloration overlaps broadly; reliable separation requires examination of costal spot arrangement and shapes

More Details

Nomenclature

Originally described as Tortrix spectrana by Treitschke in 1830 (some sources cite 1835). Currently placed in Clepsis within tribe Archipini.

Research interest

range specifically investigated in scientific literature (Plant , 1976), indicating agricultural significance.