Key to the identification of the adults of British Coleophora species
For an explanation of the anatomical terms used in these keys see "Anatomy" for external features and "Genitalia" for genital structures.
One species has sufficiently distinctive features that it can be readily identified (once recognised as a Coleophora species).
37.003 Coleophora limoniella: metallic silver longitudinal streaks and subapical spots on an orange ground. |
Three species usually show one or more diffuse fuscous stigmata.
They are keyed in the group in which they would be looked for when these stigmata are obscured. 37.039 Coleophora hemerobiella - Group B 37.107 Coleophora clypeiferella - Group C 37.108 Coleophora salicorniae - Group C |
All other species can be considered as falling onto one of the following more-or-less discrete groups based on the forewing pattern:
A) metallic
B) white with scattered fuscous scales
C) plain (not metallic, not white, no pale markings)
D) plain with a pale costa
E) obscurely streaked with a pale costa
F) with longitudinal pale streaks only
G) with longitudinal and oblique pale streaks without fuscous scales
H) with longitudinal and oblique streaks and scattered fuscous scales
There is some overlap between groups. For example: for some specimens in group D the pale costa may be sufficiently indistinct so as to be looked for in Group C; for some specimens in group E the streaks may be sufficiently indistinct so as to be looked for in Group C or sufficiently bold to be looked for in Group G; conversely for some specimens in Group G the pale streaks may be sufficiently indistinct so as to be looked for in Group E; and for some specimens in Group H the fuscous scales may be so sparse so as to be looked for in Group G or Group E. Where this may be a problem it is mentioned in the keys. Some specimens cannot be clearly assigned to a single group and will have to be worked through more than one of these keys.
A) metallic
B) white with scattered fuscous scales
C) plain (not metallic, not white, no pale markings)
D) plain with a pale costa
E) obscurely streaked with a pale costa
F) with longitudinal pale streaks only
G) with longitudinal and oblique pale streaks without fuscous scales
H) with longitudinal and oblique streaks and scattered fuscous scales
There is some overlap between groups. For example: for some specimens in group D the pale costa may be sufficiently indistinct so as to be looked for in Group C; for some specimens in group E the streaks may be sufficiently indistinct so as to be looked for in Group C or sufficiently bold to be looked for in Group G; conversely for some specimens in Group G the pale streaks may be sufficiently indistinct so as to be looked for in Group E; and for some specimens in Group H the fuscous scales may be so sparse so as to be looked for in Group G or Group E. Where this may be a problem it is mentioned in the keys. Some specimens cannot be clearly assigned to a single group and will have to be worked through more than one of these keys.