ws |
fw |
flight |
time |
13-17.5* |
8.1-9.3 (5) |
Jun-Jul |
? |
lfp |
habitat |
distribution |
status |
common knapweed (Centaurea nigra) |
fields, scrub |
Essex, Kent |
RDB |
*My limited experience of this species suggests that the wingspan quoted in MBGBI3 is incorrect and should be ~16.5-19.0mm
ID: Group F - Forewing with longitudinal pale streaks, without oblique pale streaks; antenna white, unringed, scape with a long tuft; brown wedge between subcostal and discal streaks about as broad as the subcostal streak
Male genitalia
Vinculum a standard arc; saccus produced anteriorly, short, rounded with a small pouch-like flap over bases of valvae; posterodorsal end free and widely separated from anteroventral ends of tegumen. Tegumen tubular. Median lobe of gnathos ovoid, truncate apically, with transverse bands of hairs. Sacculus bowed; anterolateral margin fairly smoothly curved; posterolateral angle bears a strong spine, naturally this curves medially, but in the set position it is directed posteriorly or laterally. Valvula long, somewhat clubbed. Costa has a ridged anterior margin such that it appears to be "inside" (medial to) the sacculus; this ridge continues around the base of the valvula, such that the valvula arises from the lateral surface (in the natural position) of the apex of the costa; posterodorsal margin of the costa extended medially as a moderately strong transtilla, which almost but doesn't quite meet its partner. It seems to be that this greater separation of sacculus and costa is associated with the greater separation of vinculum and tegumen. Outer surface of sacculus articulated with vinculum; medial end of sacculus articulated with juxta; posteromedial end of costa articulated with tegumen. Juxta a laterally compressed short band between the medial ends of the sacculi, which extends dorsally for a short distance and expands to attach to the base of the tunica. Tunica simple, long , curved, without ornamentation or cornuti. Vesica almost as long as tunica; annulus narrow indistinct; no sclerotised arc; comb of cornuti near junction with ductus ejaculatorius. |
Female genitalia
AP short in ant-post direction, broad in dorso-ventral plane. PA ~1.5xOP. A8 dorsal plate weakly sclerotised with a hyaline midline; ~discrete ventrolateral plates bearing short AA ~ 0.5xOP; and a small "tooth" at posteromedial margin; broad notch between these plates. Ostium near AM; formed as a sclerotised ring attached to the lateral plates in the dorso-ventral plane, ie perpendicular to the plates, so that the ostium naturally opens to the posterior. No identifiable antrum. DB straight in posterior half, coiled in anterior half. Sclerotisation -flanked linear from ostium into first coil + sparse circumferential spiculation from ~1OP anterior to AM for ~2OP. DB broadens towards BC, junction indistinct. Signum a moderate thorn with a broad base plate and a curved spike shorter than the width of the base plate. |