43.002 Scythris grandipennis (Gorse Runner)
ws: ♂14-20mm, ♀12-15mm (MBGBI4.1); fw: 5-9mm (Sterling & Parsons); Jun-Jul; gorse (Ulex spp); NS-B local on dry heath and downland in S.England
Scythris grnadipennis §1 male (image supplied by Graham Ekins)
ID: Entirely bronzy dark grey-brown. Requires genital determination.
Male genitalia: At first sight it appears that the vinculum is bilobed and the valvae absent but I think the correct interpretation is that the valvae and vinculum are fused and the valvae are fused to each other between ~¼ and ½ on their medial margins. The uncus is bilobed and fused to the tegumen. The anellus and aedaegus are fused into a single unit, hyaline on its dorsal surface, with a T-shaped apical appendage.
Female genitalia:
Male genitalia: At first sight it appears that the vinculum is bilobed and the valvae absent but I think the correct interpretation is that the valvae and vinculum are fused and the valvae are fused to each other between ~¼ and ½ on their medial margins. The uncus is bilobed and fused to the tegumen. The anellus and aedaegus are fused into a single unit, hyaline on its dorsal surface, with a T-shaped apical appendage.
Female genitalia:
§1 Boreham, Essex; 25/06/2025; male; fw 8.5mm (specimen provided by Graham Ekins)
All images © Chris Lewis
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 04/07/2025 (§1)
