Group D: Coleophora with a plain, non-metallic, not white, forewing with a pale costa
15 species (two of which are extinct)
Only 1 of the extant species can be reliably identified on external features.
Only 1 of the extant species can be reliably identified on external features.
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Most species in this group have predominantly ochreous colouration. Their size ranges overlap. Only C.albella was sufficiently distinctive to be identifiable by a combination of colour and size - but it is now extinct in Britain (and is not included in the keys). The pale costa ranges from bold, fairly broad and distinctly contrastingly white to just a shade paler than the rest of the forewing. The pale costa always extends from the base, but the distance it extends along the costa varies from species to species (indicated by the fraction in the costa column in these tables).
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Species that may be looked for here but are keyed in other groups
In C.alticolella (Group E) the obscure streaks could be so obscure that they are overlooked
In C.alticolella (Group E) the obscure streaks could be so obscure that they are overlooked
1. Antenna almost entirely white
1a. White costal streak contrasts strongly with ochreous forewing > 37.043 Coleophora niveicostella
(scape greyish buff, rest of antenna white)
(scape greyish buff, rest of antenna white)
Possibly C.arctostaphyli could be identified by being found around bearberry on Speyside or Deeside and having an entirely white hindleg.
The rest of the species in this group have the antenna white, ringed or barred fuscous either to the apex or fading before the apex. They are keyed from the genitalia - but the males of some species pairs and groups have extremely similar genitalia, such that once narrowed down to that pair or group they are best distinguished on external features. So in the male genitalia keys for Group D a combination of genital and external features are used in identification to species. The female genitalia are sufficiently distinct (within this group) to enable identification without recourse to other features.