Some difficult micros from the summer

Jon Clifton has kindly checked through a few difficult micros I sent to him from the summer months. Some of the records are from sites on the Somerleyton estate VC25 where I join Keith to run our traps. We are able to add Epinotia tetraquetrana, Coleophora sternipennella and Gynnidomorpha alismana to the Herringfleet Hills site.

Gynnidomorpha alismana 20/5/14 Herringfleet HillsGynnidomorpha alismana (m) Herringfleet Hills

We were interested to see results from 2 specimens of Spilonotia laricana/ocellana trapped among the larches of Ashby Warren, but both of these were females which prove to be very tricky and the result was inconclusive.
One interesting record from just over the border Aldeby, VC27 was for a P manniana I sent that Jon determined as Phalonidia udana. This is a new record away from the broads and the site is just 200 yards from Suffolk VC25. So it will be well worth checking any manniana taken in the Beccles Marshes/Oulton Marshes area as udana has not yet been confirmed in Suffolk.

I was pleased with the results as 7 of those given Id’s are new for me.

Brian

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3 Responses to Some difficult micros from the summer

  1. Raymond Watson says:

    Like the Gynnidomorpha, shame about the Spilonota though. I think a little research is needed on the female tortricid genitalia as many are poorly known.

  2. jonc says:

    Raymond
    Regarding the female genitalia of Spilonota laricana/ocellana, I have great difficulty seeing the quoted differences mentioned in Razowski “cingulum smaller and weaker but more sclerite in laricana”, I see no differences in this area between the two species. Have you any experience with the females of these two, what are your thoughts? The moths Brian gave me were more occelana like in wing shape but this could be due to the fact they were long dead in a pot.

    PS I’m away from tomorrow so may not see your reply until I return. E-mail me direct if you have any conclusive images.

    Regards JC

  3. Raymond Watson says:

    I haven’t seen a female laricana but noted variation in ocellana. My thoughts were for the tortricid females as a whole. Having only just taken a laricana and looking at internet photos of the two species I feel the wing pattern difference for the species is more clear than might be thought.

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