01.004 Micropterix aruncella (White-line Pollen-moth)
ws: 6-8mm; May-Aug; adults feed on pollen of herbaceous plants and hawthorn (Crataegus spp); occurs throughout UK; less tied to damp habitats than other Micropterix spp
Micropterix aruncella §1 male
ID: Head ferruginous; forewing with silvery-white transverse fasciae > male M.aruncella
Head ferruginous; forewing without fasciae, base of costa only purple > female M.aruncella
Females are very similar to both sexes of M.calthella, which is distinguished in the key in MBGBI1 by having the whole base of the forewing purple. However I have found several males with just the costa at base of the forewing purple and these must be M.calthella.
Female genitalia: I have only my own images to go on but on the limited available evidence it may be that the apical sclerotisation of the ovipositor has a straight anterior margin in M.calthella and an angular margin in M.aruncella.
Head ferruginous; forewing without fasciae, base of costa only purple > female M.aruncella
Females are very similar to both sexes of M.calthella, which is distinguished in the key in MBGBI1 by having the whole base of the forewing purple. However I have found several males with just the costa at base of the forewing purple and these must be M.calthella.
Female genitalia: I have only my own images to go on but on the limited available evidence it may be that the apical sclerotisation of the ovipositor has a straight anterior margin in M.calthella and an angular margin in M.aruncella.
§1 Exbury Gardens, Hampshire; 30/05/2010; male; fw 3.0mm
§2 Newgale, Pembrokeshire; 19/05/2011; male fw 3.4mm
§3 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 07/07/2013; female; fw 3.9mm
§4 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 13/06/2014; male; fw 3.1mm
§5 Portland, Dorset; 21/06/2015; male; potted by day
§6 Bampton Grange, Cumbria; 14/06/2017
§7 Bampton Grange, Cumbria; 17/06/2017
§8 Applecross, Ross & Cromarty; 21/06/2022; female; fw 3.7mm; potted by day
§9 Applecross, Ross & Cromarty; 21/06/2022; female; fw 3.8mm; potted by day
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Newgale, Pembrokeshire; 19/05/2011; male fw 3.4mm
§3 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 07/07/2013; female; fw 3.9mm
§4 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 13/06/2014; male; fw 3.1mm
§5 Portland, Dorset; 21/06/2015; male; potted by day
§6 Bampton Grange, Cumbria; 14/06/2017
§7 Bampton Grange, Cumbria; 17/06/2017
§8 Applecross, Ross & Cromarty; 21/06/2022; female; fw 3.7mm; potted by day
§9 Applecross, Ross & Cromarty; 21/06/2022; female; fw 3.8mm; potted by day
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published December 2010 | §3 and ID text added 10/04/2014 | §4 added 31/01/2015 | §5 added 05/03/2016 | §6&7 added 07/04/2018 |
§8&9 added 08/10/2022
§8&9 added 08/10/2022
