ws |
fw |
flight |
time |
13-14.5* |
6.2-6.7 (5) |
Jun-Jul |
day |
lfp |
habitat |
distribution |
status |
red clover (Trifolium pratense) |
rough grassland |
E |
uncertain |
ID: Group A - metallic; eye fringe fuscous; antenna fuscous with a white apex, basal 2 or 3 segments thickened with projecting scales.
Genital determination required to distinguish from 37.035 C.alcyonipennella and male 37.046 C.deauratella
Genital determination required to distinguish from 37.035 C.alcyonipennella and male 37.046 C.deauratella
The English name of this species could lead one to despair, if one was so inclined, over the stupidity of applying rules of precedence to English names. I am assuming that some time after C.frischella and C.deauratella were split (1976) the name Red-clover Case-bearer was applied to C.deauratella and White-clover Case-bearer applied to C.frischella, most of which are now known to have been C.alcyonipennella, and which does feed on white clover. When C.alcyonipennella was split from C.frischella (~2000) it would have been sensible to apply White-clover Case-bearer to C.alyconipennella and Clover Case-bearer to C.frischella instead of the other way round. But clearly common sense was in low supply as we now have a White-clover Case-bearer that has red clover as its larval foodplant! (I haven't excluded the possibility that the foodplant of C.frischella was not known at the time of the split).
The status and distribution of this species are uncertain due to past confusion with C.alyconipennella. I have recorded it in Essex and Kent, and the Isles of Scilly, but at the time of writing it has not been reliably recorded in Norfolk or Suffolk. Hants Moths suggests that it is confined to SW.England, but also states that it has been reliably recorded in Hampshire. |
* The wingspan quoted above is based on the specimens I have examined. The wingspan size range quoted in MBGBI3 (10.5-12.5mm) presumably relates to C.alyconipennella (and is on the small side for that species). It is certainly too small for specimens I have determined to be C.frischella, though I accept that this is a very limited series.
Male genital key: anterolateral margin of the sacculus somewhat angular, comes to its most lateral extremity at its most dorsal point and lacks any significant posterior projection. ~6 cornuti the longest of which is about ⅓ the length of the bundle.
C.deauratella: the sacculus has a small posterior projection C.alcyonipennella: 4 or 5 cornuti the longest of which is ~½ the length of the bundle |
Female genital key: Ostial plate elongate (~1.5x as long as wide) with the ostium at its anterior margin.
C.frischella: ostial plate quadrate; ostium broad and fairly central
C.frischella: ostial plate quadrate; ostium broad and fairly central