15 July 2013

15 July 2013 – A Shy Ghost.

Cyclamen Tortrix (Clepsis spectrana)

The Cyclamen Tortrix (Clepsis spectrana) is our 279th visitor to Shandy Hall! This specimen is one variation of the Cyclamen Tortrix, though this micro-moth comes in a variety of ground colors, ranging from a light yellow to a dark reddish brown. I believe our specimen is of a lighter variation. As its name suggests, the Cyclamen Tortrix feeds on cyclamen, but also a great many other plants. The larva of members of the Clepsis genus hide within spinnings, which is why their name comes from klepto ‘to steal, to conceal’.  Spectrana comes from spectrum ‘an image, a spectre.’ This may refer to the paleness of the whitish ground color of the moth. This is plausible for the Cyclamen Tortrix or at least the one that we caught. Would that make our Cyclamen Tortrix a ghost come out of hiding?

– Post by Jane Wu