21.004 Leucoptera laburnella (Laburnum Leaf-miner)
ws: 7-9mm; bivoltine May, Aug; laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides), dyer's greenweed (Genista tinctoria), garden lupin (Lupinus polyphyllus); common in gardens and urban areas throughout GB except N.Scotland
Leucoptera laburnella (Laburnum Leaf-miner) §1 male
ID: From key in MBGBI2 (p214) - Forewing white (excludes L.lotella & L.malifoliella); hindwing white (excludes L.orobi & L.lathyrifoliella); proximal margin of first costal strigula extending halfway across forewing (extends nearly to tornus in L.sinuella (which has been presumed extinct in GB since the 1950s);* > L.laburnella/spartifoliella. These are distinguished in the key on features of the forewing underside - there is a reddish suffusion in both species: in L.laburnella it terminates in a diffuse diagonal line from mid-costa to tornus; in L.spartifoliella it either reaches the apex or terminates in a line perpendicular to the costa. L.laburnella has a yellowish apical spot which is not usually seen in L.spartifoliella.
* MBGBI2 distinguishes L.wailesella with a smaller size (ws 5-7mm) and the antennal apex only slightly paler than rest of flagellum - the RES Checklist regards L.wailesella as synonymous with L.laburnella
Male genitalia: L.laburnella and L.spartifoliella are illustrated inMBGBI2 (fig 89 p216) and shown at Dissection Group. L.laburnella has an incision in the bulb of the aedeagus and the shaft is much narrower (~1/5) than the bulb; in L.spartifoliella the bulb is entire and the shaft is about half the diameter of the bulb. In L.spartifoliella the costae show a distinct subapical tooth which is not seen in L.laburnella.
* MBGBI2 distinguishes L.wailesella with a smaller size (ws 5-7mm) and the antennal apex only slightly paler than rest of flagellum - the RES Checklist regards L.wailesella as synonymous with L.laburnella
Male genitalia: L.laburnella and L.spartifoliella are illustrated inMBGBI2 (fig 89 p216) and shown at Dissection Group. L.laburnella has an incision in the bulb of the aedeagus and the shaft is much narrower (~1/5) than the bulb; in L.spartifoliella the bulb is entire and the shaft is about half the diameter of the bulb. In L.spartifoliella the costae show a distinct subapical tooth which is not seen in L.laburnella.
DIssection
Male genitalia
Female genitalia
§1 Christon Bank, Northumberland; 16/09/2014; male; fw: 3.9mm; potted on window by day
§2 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 01/07/2015; male; fw 3.8mm; to light
§3 Bampton Grange, Essex; 10/06/2018; female; fw 2.8mm; found on vegetation
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 01/07/2015; male; fw 3.8mm; to light
§3 Bampton Grange, Essex; 10/06/2018; female; fw 2.8mm; found on vegetation
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 16/04/2014 (§1) | §2 added 2015 | §3 added 15/03/2019
