ws |
fw |
flight |
time |
12-14 |
5.7-6.9 (18) |
Jul-Aug |
to light |
lfp |
habitat |
distribution |
status |
glassworts (Salicornia spp) |
saltmarsh |
coasts of E & W |
common |
ID: Group C - plain; basal ¼ of flagellum thickened with scales in ♀, basal 2 segments thickened in ♂; forewing usually with 2 or 3 diffuse fuscous stigmata and a variable scattering of fuscous scales which may be arranged in short streaks, variable irroration of apical area with white-tipped scales.
♀s can only be confused with C.clypeiferella. ♂s can usually be identified by the combination of forewing stigmata and limited antennal thickening, but where the stigmata are absent or obscured genital determination may be required.
This is also the only Coleophora species I have come across that shows irroration (pale tips to some of the scales) at the forewing apex. Web images suggest that C.clypeiferella shows similar scales, and in both species it is only the fuscous scales that show pale tips.
See C.salicorniae vs C.clypeiferella for detailed separation of these two
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Male genitalia
Vinculum a standard narrow V with the small saccus angled and slightly produced anteriorly, posterior ends approach costal margin but are free. Tegumen tubular, ~quadrate; anterior ends articulate with costa. Sidearms of gnathos very long, fused at base such that they appear more like a sclerotised plate with an oval central gap (through which the anal tube emerges; median lobe continues ventrally (not retroflexed) somewhat narrowly produced at apex (appearing beaked in profile). Sacculus: AM sinuate, ALA produced into a rounded lobe, LM concave, PLA with a short strong process. Valvula extends ~twice as far laterally as the sacculus, somewhat broader than sacculus. Costa continuous with base of valvula with a broad plate extending over inner surface of valva and produce medially as a narrow transtilla which meets and fuses with its partner in the midline. Juxta a standard peduncle connecting the bases of the sacculu to the base of the tunica. Tunica 2-pronged, ventral straight, dorsal curved (concave dorsally) and longer, neither ornamented. Vesica slightly longer than tunica; annulus narrow, strong, continuous with extensive sclerotisation of concave curve; comb of cornuti in anterior half. |
Female genitalia
Anal papillae pointed. Posterior apophyses ~2xOP. Anterior apophyses ~1xOP. Ostial plate quadrate; posterior margin notched with spinous lobes either side of the notch; lateral margins rounded. A pair of short strong carinae run aneteromedioventrally on the dorsal surface of the OP from the lateral margin of each of these lobes. Dorsal plate of A8 with a strongly sclerotised anterior margin, a central square of sclerotisation extends posteriorly from this margin, the connections of which to the OP are hyaline. Ostium in the notch at PM. Ostium opens into a weakly sclerotised antrum about same diameter as DB and extends to AM. Ductus bursae long and extensively coiled in anterior half (~5 coils). Spiculate flanked linear sclerotisation from AM for just <2OP; the line extends posteriorly for a short distance into antrum and anteriorly as a "tail" for ~1.5OP into the first (most posterior) coil. The second coil has sparse but definite (hemicircumferential) spiculation. Anterior end of DB expands somewhat to junction with BC. Bursa elongate ovoid. Signum a medium thorn with an irregular ovoid base-plate and a moderate slightly curved spike |