The dark strawberry tortrix (Syricoris lacunana) is a small moth of the family Tortricidae, found across much of the Palearctic realm. It belongs to the order Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies, within the class Insecta.
The species is found all over Europe, in most northern countries of the eastern Palearctic, and in the Near East. It is a very common moth across this range.
Its wide spread and common status make it one of the more frequently encountered small moths in its range.
Identification and Appearance
The most useful mark is the forewing pattern: shades of grey-brown crossed by a few thin, irregular silvery lines.
The wingspan measures 16 to 18 millimeters (0.63 to 0.71 inches), which makes it a small moth.
The caterpillars can reach about 15 millimeters (0.59 inches) and are brown to dark brown.
The moths are quite variable, and they can be confused with Olethreutes obsoletana, Celypha doubledayana and Orthotaenia undulana. Julius von Kennel provides a full description.
Distribution and Habitat
The species occurs all over Europe, in most northern countries of the eastern Palearctic, and in the Near East.
It is a very common moth in hedgerows, fields and woodland edges.
Sightings are most frequent from late spring through summer, peaking in June.
Diet and Nutrition
Its food plants include stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) and Montpellier thistle (Cirsium monspessulanum).
The plants it uses belong mainly to the rose order (Rosales), the carnation order (Caryophyllales) and the daisy order (Asterales). Other main groups include buttercup-order plants (Ranunculales) and myrtle-order plants (Myrtales).
Goosefoot plants (Chenopodium), such as Chenopodium album, form another group of food plants.
Photos
Photographs from via iNaturalist, licensed under CC0 1.0., by Olivier Morel via iNaturalist, licensed under CC BY 4.0., by Michael Knapp via iNaturalist, licensed under CC BY 4.0., by Josh Boe via iNaturalist, licensed under CC BY 4.0., by Will Taylor via iNaturalist, licensed under CC BY 4.0., and by Bobo-X via iNaturalist, licensed under CC BY 4.0., credited on each photo.
Ecology and classification
Classification
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Syricoris
- Species
- Syricoris lacunana
