07.003 Nemophora cupriacella (Copper-tip Longhorn)
ws12-16mm (MBGBI1), fw: 6-8mm (Sterling & Parsons); Jun-Jul; lfp scabious species (Knautia, Scabiosa, Succisa); local in England and Wales
Parthenogenetic: females only
Parthenogenetic: females only
Nemophora cupriacella §1 female
ID: Sterling and Parsons gives: antenna a little longer than forewing; fw golden-green in basal half, golden reddish or purplish in apical half.
Most similar to N.minimella. Lepiforum gives the crucial distinctions as follows, features for N.cupriacella given first: hairs on labial palps yellow vs black; base of antenna thickened vs not; forewing colouration showing little contrast vs more contrast and a black basal streak; larger vs smaller. Comparing images at Lepiforum it also appears that the thorax of N.minimella is brassy green, contrasting with the forewing base; while in N.cupriacella the thorax and forewing base are ~concolorous.
Discussion re §1: The labial palps are worn and show residual tufts of both yellow and black hairs. The antennal base is clearly thickened. The forewing shows little contrast. Forewing length 5.2mm; Sterling and Parsons gives 6-8mm for N.cupriacella and 5-7mm for N.minimella. Thorax and forewing base concolorous. (Cauchas rufimitrella flies May and June and the ♀ antenna is 1.5xfw; Adela cuprella flies April-May; N.metallica is larger (fw 7.5-10mm) and the ♀ antenna is 1.5xfw).
MBGBI1 gives the following description - however as the species is parthenogenetic it is not clear what species is being described. ♂ Head black; antenna 3xfw base ringed black & white, apex white; thorax black; fw shining golden-bronze with apical ⅓ and costa purplish; abdomen dark fuscous. ♀ Head ferruginous 1.2xfw base thickened violet-black apex white; thorax purplish bronze; fw shining golden-bronze suffused violet, more so in apical ½; abdomen bronzy fuscous. Labial palps rough-haired, the hairs yellow in both sexes.
Female genitalia: There are no images of either N.cupriacella or N.minimella at Moth Dissection. The only image I can find is of the ventral plate of A8 of N.cupriacella at Lepiforum - and this shows a much deeper median notch in the posterior margin than is shown by §1.
Most similar to N.minimella. Lepiforum gives the crucial distinctions as follows, features for N.cupriacella given first: hairs on labial palps yellow vs black; base of antenna thickened vs not; forewing colouration showing little contrast vs more contrast and a black basal streak; larger vs smaller. Comparing images at Lepiforum it also appears that the thorax of N.minimella is brassy green, contrasting with the forewing base; while in N.cupriacella the thorax and forewing base are ~concolorous.
Discussion re §1: The labial palps are worn and show residual tufts of both yellow and black hairs. The antennal base is clearly thickened. The forewing shows little contrast. Forewing length 5.2mm; Sterling and Parsons gives 6-8mm for N.cupriacella and 5-7mm for N.minimella. Thorax and forewing base concolorous. (Cauchas rufimitrella flies May and June and the ♀ antenna is 1.5xfw; Adela cuprella flies April-May; N.metallica is larger (fw 7.5-10mm) and the ♀ antenna is 1.5xfw).
MBGBI1 gives the following description - however as the species is parthenogenetic it is not clear what species is being described. ♂ Head black; antenna 3xfw base ringed black & white, apex white; thorax black; fw shining golden-bronze with apical ⅓ and costa purplish; abdomen dark fuscous. ♀ Head ferruginous 1.2xfw base thickened violet-black apex white; thorax purplish bronze; fw shining golden-bronze suffused violet, more so in apical ½; abdomen bronzy fuscous. Labial palps rough-haired, the hairs yellow in both sexes.
Female genitalia: There are no images of either N.cupriacella or N.minimella at Moth Dissection. The only image I can find is of the ventral plate of A8 of N.cupriacella at Lepiforum - and this shows a much deeper median notch in the posterior margin than is shown by §1.
§1 Covert Woods, Kent; 06/07/2022; female; fw 5.2mm; netted late afternoon
All images © Chris Lewis
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 14/07/2022 (§1)
