06.002 Antispila petryi (Dogwood Cutter)
ws: 5-6mm (MBGBI1), 4.8 - 6.1mm (Nieukerken); Jun-Jul; dogwood (Cornus sanguinea); locally common in S.England
Ref: Two European Cornus L. feeding leafmining moths, Antispila petryi Martini, 1899, sp. rev. and A. treitschkiella (Fischer von Röslerstamm, 1843) (Lepidoptera, Heliozelidae): an unjustified synonymy and overlooked range expansion. Erik J. van Nieukerken et al.
Nota Lepidopterologica 41(1) 39-86. https://nl.pensoft.net/issue/1265/
Ref: Two European Cornus L. feeding leafmining moths, Antispila petryi Martini, 1899, sp. rev. and A. treitschkiella (Fischer von Röslerstamm, 1843) (Lepidoptera, Heliozelidae): an unjustified synonymy and overlooked range expansion. Erik J. van Nieukerken et al.
Nota Lepidopterologica 41(1) 39-86. https://nl.pensoft.net/issue/1265/
Antisila petryi §1 male (image by Dan Blyton)
ID: Antispila species differ from Heliozela species in having metallic forewing spots (non-metallic spots in Heliozela). A.metallella is larger than the other two Antispila species with no overlap in size with A.petryi and only a little overlap with A.treitschkiella (ws 5.7-7.0mm vs 6.8-8.5mm). A.petryi has darker forewings and less purple in the hindwing.
Male genitalia: The best feature for separating A.petryi from A.treitschkiella is a well-sclerotised curved band, concave posteriorly, between the bases of the valvae and ventral to the aedeagus (arrowed in the detailed image of the male genitalia). This structure looks like a juxta to me (and has been referred to as such in Kuroko, 1961) but Nieukerken calls it an anellus. It is completely absent in A.treitschkiella.
Other confirmatory features, with those for A.petryi given first, are: 1) Pecten with 15-16 tines vs 9-14 (16 in §1); 2) sublateral processes of transtilla straight and widened at tips (anterior ends) vs narrow and not or hardly widened at tips; 3) emarginations either side of uncus shallow vs deeper. Nieukerken also refers to a difference in the spines on the "phallotheca" stating "phallotheca with groups of many scaly spines an(d) less larger pointed spines; clearly two types of spines" vs "group of larger pointed spines; most spines belonging to one type". My understanding is that the "phallotheca" is synonymous with what I call the "tunica" and is the non-eversible portion of the phallus. However the spines are clearly in the manica (the eversible portion of the diaphragm which attaches other diaphragmatic structures to the phallus) (see image at Moth Dissection). Comparing images in Nieukerken's paper (and §1 here) it can be seen that the larger spines in A.petryi are in two linear groups, while in A.treitschkiella they are in a much broader single cluster.
Female genitalia: Female A.petryi and A.treitschkiella cannot be reliably separated from their female genitalia.
Male genitalia: The best feature for separating A.petryi from A.treitschkiella is a well-sclerotised curved band, concave posteriorly, between the bases of the valvae and ventral to the aedeagus (arrowed in the detailed image of the male genitalia). This structure looks like a juxta to me (and has been referred to as such in Kuroko, 1961) but Nieukerken calls it an anellus. It is completely absent in A.treitschkiella.
Other confirmatory features, with those for A.petryi given first, are: 1) Pecten with 15-16 tines vs 9-14 (16 in §1); 2) sublateral processes of transtilla straight and widened at tips (anterior ends) vs narrow and not or hardly widened at tips; 3) emarginations either side of uncus shallow vs deeper. Nieukerken also refers to a difference in the spines on the "phallotheca" stating "phallotheca with groups of many scaly spines an(d) less larger pointed spines; clearly two types of spines" vs "group of larger pointed spines; most spines belonging to one type". My understanding is that the "phallotheca" is synonymous with what I call the "tunica" and is the non-eversible portion of the phallus. However the spines are clearly in the manica (the eversible portion of the diaphragm which attaches other diaphragmatic structures to the phallus) (see image at Moth Dissection). Comparing images in Nieukerken's paper (and §1 here) it can be seen that the larger spines in A.petryi are in two linear groups, while in A.treitschkiella they are in a much broader single cluster.
Female genitalia: Female A.petryi and A.treitschkiella cannot be reliably separated from their female genitalia.
§1 Earls Colne, Essex; 25/05/2026; male; fw 2.5mm; to PROLE lure; specimen provided by Dan Blyton
All images © Chris Lewis
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 02/06/2026 (§1)
