Group E: Coleophora with an obscurely streaked forewing with a pale costa
10 Species
The pale costa is usually distinct, and it is the only distinct pale streak. The forewing streaks may be obscure because they contrast little with the forewing ground colour and/or are overlaid by fuscous scales. Despite the streaks being obscured they are usually sufficiently apparent that the forewing does not appear plain. All of these species require genital determination, none can be reliably identified on external features alone.
Possibly C.sylvatica can be identified by having an almost entirely white antenna?
The pale costa is usually distinct, and it is the only distinct pale streak. The forewing streaks may be obscure because they contrast little with the forewing ground colour and/or are overlaid by fuscous scales. Despite the streaks being obscured they are usually sufficiently apparent that the forewing does not appear plain. All of these species require genital determination, none can be reliably identified on external features alone.
Possibly C.sylvatica can be identified by having an almost entirely white antenna?
Species |
Colour |
Costa |
Fuscous scales |
Wingspan (mm) |
37.071 C.glaucicolella |
buff / ochreous |
white ⅔ |
no |
10-12 |
37.073 C.alticolella |
fuscous + ochreous/buff |
buff ⅔ |
sometimes |
10-12 |
37.075 C.salinella |
pale buff |
whitish buff** |
yes |
8.5-13 |
37.082 C.asteris |
ochreous |
cream ⅝ |
yes |
10-15 |
37.083 C.saxicolella |
fuscous - brown* |
whitish buff ⅔ |
yes |
13-16 |
37.084 C. sternipennella |
fuscous - brown* |
whitish buff ½ |
yes |
10.5-15 |
37.087 C.vestianella |
ochreous* |
whitish buff ⅔ |
yes |
12-14.5 |
37.088 C.atriplicis |
ochreous |
cream ½ |
sometimes |
12-14 |
37.091 C.deviella |
ochreous |
buff from ⅓ to ⅔** |
no |
9-10 |
37.076 C.sylvaticella |
pale buff |
whitish buff |
no |
9-14 |
* C.saxicolella and C.sternipennella are described and illustrated as having a whitish-buff ground colour in MBGBI3 - but I have never found a specimen of either species this pale.
** In C.salinella the costal stripe contrasts little with the forewing ground colour and may not be noticed. In C.deviella the costal stripe is short and indistinct and starts ~ ⅓ from the wing base.
** In C.salinella the costal stripe contrasts little with the forewing ground colour and may not be noticed. In C.deviella the costal stripe is short and indistinct and starts ~ ⅓ from the wing base.
Species that may be looked for here but are keyed in other groups
C.betulella (Group B) is very variable but differs from species in Group E in having a white ground colour
C.wockeella (Group F) is distinctive, but it only has one constant pale streak apart from the pale costa, the other veins being obscured by ferruginous scales
C.tamesis, C.lassella and C.maritimella (Group G) are somewhat intermediate. The pale streaks are not as distinct as in other species in Group G and the costa may or may not be better marked than other pale streaks.
C.squamosella (Group H) is also intermediate. Its pale streaks are more prominent than in species of Group E, but not as distinct as most of Group H and the fuscous scales are sparse but are concentrated on the pale streaks.
C.versurella (Group H) is variable. It usually has the veins sufficiently clearly marked that they would not be regarded as "obscured", but in some specimens the veins may be obscured by fuscous scales.
C.betulella (Group B) is very variable but differs from species in Group E in having a white ground colour
C.wockeella (Group F) is distinctive, but it only has one constant pale streak apart from the pale costa, the other veins being obscured by ferruginous scales
C.tamesis, C.lassella and C.maritimella (Group G) are somewhat intermediate. The pale streaks are not as distinct as in other species in Group G and the costa may or may not be better marked than other pale streaks.
C.squamosella (Group H) is also intermediate. Its pale streaks are more prominent than in species of Group E, but not as distinct as most of Group H and the fuscous scales are sparse but are concentrated on the pale streaks.
C.versurella (Group H) is variable. It usually has the veins sufficiently clearly marked that they would not be regarded as "obscured", but in some specimens the veins may be obscured by fuscous scales.
Males
1. Transtilla distinctive
1a. Transtilla with very long processes arising from a midline fusion > 37.082 Coleophera asteris
1b. Transtilla with moderately long processes without a midline fusion > 37.088 Coleophora atriplicis
1c. Transtilla moderately broad with a narrower curved median process > 37.087 Coelophora vestianella
1d. Transtilla very broad with a scabrous area > 37.083 Coleophora saxicolella
In C.asteris the two sides of the transtilla meet and fuse in the midline and the long processes arise from this midline fusion. In the other 3 species the two sides do not meet in the midline, but this separation may be obscured in the set position of a slide preparation. In C.atriplicis the two sides of the transtilla approach each other towards the midline and then curve into the process without any significant change in width. In the natural position the processes are paramedian and run posteroventrally over the dorsal surface of the aedeagus. C.sternipennella and C.alticolella both have a moderately broad transtilla without a scabrous area.
1a. Transtilla with very long processes arising from a midline fusion > 37.082 Coleophera asteris
1b. Transtilla with moderately long processes without a midline fusion > 37.088 Coleophora atriplicis
1c. Transtilla moderately broad with a narrower curved median process > 37.087 Coelophora vestianella
1d. Transtilla very broad with a scabrous area > 37.083 Coleophora saxicolella
In C.asteris the two sides of the transtilla meet and fuse in the midline and the long processes arise from this midline fusion. In the other 3 species the two sides do not meet in the midline, but this separation may be obscured in the set position of a slide preparation. In C.atriplicis the two sides of the transtilla approach each other towards the midline and then curve into the process without any significant change in width. In the natural position the processes are paramedian and run posteroventrally over the dorsal surface of the aedeagus. C.sternipennella and C.alticolella both have a moderately broad transtilla without a scabrous area.
2. Sacculus with a distinct posterior process (directed posteriorly)
2a. Sacculus with a distinct ~rectangular anterior projection > 37.076 C.sylvaticella
2b. Sacculus with a straight posterior process arising at the lateral end of the posterior margin > 37.075 Coleophora salinella
2c. Anterolateral margin of sacculus smoothly curved and extended into a posterior process > 37.091 Coleophora deviella
2d. Sacculus straight lateral margin ending in a posterior process at least half as long as the lateral margin > 37.071 Coleophora glaucicolella
C.alticolella has a sacculus with a straight lateral margin ending in a posterior tooth which does not amount to a distinct process.
2a. Sacculus with a distinct ~rectangular anterior projection > 37.076 C.sylvaticella
2b. Sacculus with a straight posterior process arising at the lateral end of the posterior margin > 37.075 Coleophora salinella
2c. Anterolateral margin of sacculus smoothly curved and extended into a posterior process > 37.091 Coleophora deviella
2d. Sacculus straight lateral margin ending in a posterior process at least half as long as the lateral margin > 37.071 Coleophora glaucicolella
C.alticolella has a sacculus with a straight lateral margin ending in a posterior tooth which does not amount to a distinct process.
3. Not as above. Transtilla moderately broad, smooth.
3a. Lateral margin of sacculus straight, becoming dentate posteriorly; aedeagus with a linear bundle of cornuti and 2-4 thorn cornuti in the vesica
> 37.073 Coleophora alticolella
3b. Lateral margin of sacculus somewhat clubbed and indistinctly dentate; aedeagus with a linear bundle of cornuti in the vesica, without thorn cornuti
> 37.084 Coleophora sternipennella
3a. Lateral margin of sacculus straight, becoming dentate posteriorly; aedeagus with a linear bundle of cornuti and 2-4 thorn cornuti in the vesica
> 37.073 Coleophora alticolella
3b. Lateral margin of sacculus somewhat clubbed and indistinctly dentate; aedeagus with a linear bundle of cornuti in the vesica, without thorn cornuti
> 37.084 Coleophora sternipennella
Females
1. Corpus bursae with both a thorn signum and a linear spiculate patch
1a. Ductus bursae arising eccentrically from the left* side of antrum; ostium elongate; antrum forming a pouch anterior to origin of ductus bursae; posterior ½ of ductus bursae with a median "tail", posterior ¼ with spicules surrounding the tail > 37.082 Coleophora asteris
1b. Antrum strongly sclerotised, with a small spur at its junction with the ductus bursae; bilinear spiculate section of ductus bursae shorter than antrum, tail about same length as spiculate section > 37.087 Coleophora vestianella
The remaining 3 species have extensive bilinear spiculation of the posterior portion of the ductus bursae with a tail extending anteriorly
1c. Posterior margin of ostial plate without lateral excavations > 37.088 Coleophora atriplicis
Ostium a rounded incision in posterior margin of ostial plate; median groove in ostial plate from ostium to anterior margin
The remaining 2 species have lateral excavations of the posterior margin of the ostial plate
1d. Ostial incision much deeper than lateral excavations, with distinct straight lateral margins. > 37.083 Coleophora saxicolella**
1e. Ostial incision slightly deeper than lateral excavations, without distinct straight lateral margins. > 37.084 Coleophora sternipennella
* Images at Moth Dissection show it arising from right side - this is probably because the microscope camera used has taken a mirror image but it could be a dorsal view?
** 37.086 C.versurella will key here if it has been looked for in the wrong group; it is readily distinguished by its long sclerotised antrum
1a. Ductus bursae arising eccentrically from the left* side of antrum; ostium elongate; antrum forming a pouch anterior to origin of ductus bursae; posterior ½ of ductus bursae with a median "tail", posterior ¼ with spicules surrounding the tail > 37.082 Coleophora asteris
1b. Antrum strongly sclerotised, with a small spur at its junction with the ductus bursae; bilinear spiculate section of ductus bursae shorter than antrum, tail about same length as spiculate section > 37.087 Coleophora vestianella
The remaining 3 species have extensive bilinear spiculation of the posterior portion of the ductus bursae with a tail extending anteriorly
1c. Posterior margin of ostial plate without lateral excavations > 37.088 Coleophora atriplicis
Ostium a rounded incision in posterior margin of ostial plate; median groove in ostial plate from ostium to anterior margin
The remaining 2 species have lateral excavations of the posterior margin of the ostial plate
1d. Ostial incision much deeper than lateral excavations, with distinct straight lateral margins. > 37.083 Coleophora saxicolella**
1e. Ostial incision slightly deeper than lateral excavations, without distinct straight lateral margins. > 37.084 Coleophora sternipennella
* Images at Moth Dissection show it arising from right side - this is probably because the microscope camera used has taken a mirror image but it could be a dorsal view?
** 37.086 C.versurella will key here if it has been looked for in the wrong group; it is readily distinguished by its long sclerotised antrum
2. Corpus bursae with a thorn signum only
2a. Ductus bursae arising eccentrically from the left side of a rounded ostium; posterior ½ of ductus bursae with a median "tail"; signum small
> 37.075 Coleophora salinella
2b. Ductus bursae with minimal spiculation; signum small > 37.091 Coleophora deviella
2c. Ductus bursae with heavy spiculation extending from antrum for a length greater than that of the antrum and ostial plate together; signum medium; ostium a tear-drop-shaped incision reaching close to the anterior margin of the ostial plate > 37.071 Coleophora glaucicolella
2d Ductus bursae with heavy linear spiculation extending from ostium for a length slightly less than that of ostial plate; ostium a flagon-shaped incision reaching close to the anterior margin of the ostial plate; separate smudgy/reticulate sclerotisation in mid-section of ductus bursae; signum medium.
> 37.073 Coelophora alticolella
2a. Ductus bursae arising eccentrically from the left side of a rounded ostium; posterior ½ of ductus bursae with a median "tail"; signum small
> 37.075 Coleophora salinella
2b. Ductus bursae with minimal spiculation; signum small > 37.091 Coleophora deviella
2c. Ductus bursae with heavy spiculation extending from antrum for a length greater than that of the antrum and ostial plate together; signum medium; ostium a tear-drop-shaped incision reaching close to the anterior margin of the ostial plate > 37.071 Coleophora glaucicolella
2d Ductus bursae with heavy linear spiculation extending from ostium for a length slightly less than that of ostial plate; ostium a flagon-shaped incision reaching close to the anterior margin of the ostial plate; separate smudgy/reticulate sclerotisation in mid-section of ductus bursae; signum medium.
> 37.073 Coelophora alticolella