30.004 Amphisbatis incongruella (Obscure Concealer)
ws: 10-12mm; Mar-May, diurnal; larval case on wild thyme (Thymus polytrichus), heather (Calluna vulgaris); NS-A on moors and heaths in scattered locations throughout GB
Amphisbatis incongruella §1 male
ID: Vertex rough-haired (ie with erect scales); scape with pecten; labial palp S2 rough-scaled and longer than S3; forewing V8 absent, V9&7 connate; hindwing V4&3 connate; all dark fuscous apart from scattered whitish scales on forewing; hindtibia with long hairs. According to MBGBI4.1 the female has a large abdomen and narrow pointed wings and may be flightless.
On first encounter with this species this was a difficult one to identify. It doesn't feature in HantsMoths flying tonight section for late March. Using the key to families in MBGBI2 one gets to the Tineidae/Gracillaridae couplet and it is clearly neither; placed in Oecophoridae by MBGBI but you have to say the head is smooth-scaled to get there - which it clearly isn't. Eventually I found it by comparing the genitalia with the drawings in MBGBI4.1. I guess it would be easier if/when I encounter it again.
On first encounter with this species this was a difficult one to identify. It doesn't feature in HantsMoths flying tonight section for late March. Using the key to families in MBGBI2 one gets to the Tineidae/Gracillaridae couplet and it is clearly neither; placed in Oecophoridae by MBGBI but you have to say the head is smooth-scaled to get there - which it clearly isn't. Eventually I found it by comparing the genitalia with the drawings in MBGBI4.1. I guess it would be easier if/when I encounter it again.
§1 New Forest, Hampshire; 24/03/2015; male; fw 6.5mm; potted by day ~2pm - 6th record for Hampshire and the 1st since 1985
All images © Chris Lewis
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 30/03/2015 (§1)
