20.009 Argyresthia aurulentella (Shining Tip Moth)
ws: 7-9mm (MBGBI3), fw: 3.5-4.5mm (Sterling & Parsons); Jul; juniper (Juniperus communis); RDB on the downs of S.England and in N.Scotland
Argyresthia aurulentella §2 female
ID: Forewing obscurely marked, golden-brown to greyish-bronze, narrowly white at base of dorsum; thorax white.
Similar to other obscurely marked Argyresthia species: In A.laevigatella/glabratella/praecocella the thorax is more or less concolorous with the forewing and not white. A.arceuthina is very similar and is also found on Juniper; it averages slightly larger (fw 4-5mm) but is most easily distinguished on flight season (April-June).
The key in MBGBI3 is useless for identifying this species as it assumes that the thorax is not white!
Similar to other obscurely marked Argyresthia species: In A.laevigatella/glabratella/praecocella the thorax is more or less concolorous with the forewing and not white. A.arceuthina is very similar and is also found on Juniper; it averages slightly larger (fw 4-5mm) but is most easily distinguished on flight season (April-June).
The key in MBGBI3 is useless for identifying this species as it assumes that the thorax is not white!
Dissection
Male genitalia
Female genitalia
§1 Mardale Head, Cumbria; 29/07/2019; male; tapped from juniper at dusk
§2 Mardale Head, Cumbria; 03/08/2019; female; tapped from juniper mid afternoon
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Mardale Head, Cumbria; 03/08/2019; female; tapped from juniper mid afternoon
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 19/08/2019 (§1&2)
