FAMILY 01: MICROPTERIGIDAE (1G 5S)Suborder: Zeugloptera, Superfamily: Micropterigoidea
Ref: MBGBI1 |
Micropterix
Small (ws 5-12mm), diurnal, metallic
Head rough-haired; antenna filiform, half length to length of forewing; ocelli present
Functioning mandibles (difficult to see); maxillary palpi long, 5-segmented; labial palpi 3-segmented; proboscis absent
Forewing and hindwing similar in shape and venation; jugum present (on fw) engaging with subcostal spines (on hw) (frenulum absent)
Foretibia with epiphysis; mid-tibia without spurs; hind-tibia with 2 pairs of spurs
Small (ws 5-12mm), diurnal, metallic
Head rough-haired; antenna filiform, half length to length of forewing; ocelli present
Functioning mandibles (difficult to see); maxillary palpi long, 5-segmented; labial palpi 3-segmented; proboscis absent
Forewing and hindwing similar in shape and venation; jugum present (on fw) engaging with subcostal spines (on hw) (frenulum absent)
Foretibia with epiphysis; mid-tibia without spurs; hind-tibia with 2 pairs of spurs
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001 Micropterix tunbergella
(Red-barred Pollen-moth) 
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002 Micropterix mansuetella
(Black-headed Pollen-moth) 
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003 Micropterix aureatella
(Yellow-barred Pollen-moth) 
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004 Micropterix aruncella
(White-line Pollen-moth) 
Male
Female
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005 Micropterix calthella
(Plain Pollen-moth) 
Micropterix calthella © Chris Lewis
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Key to species |
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Head colour |
Forewing ground colour |
Forewing markings |
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Black |
M.mansuetella |
||
Ferruginous / yellow |
Purple |
Broad pale fasciae |
M.aureatella |
" |
Golden |
Narrow silvery-white fasciae |
M.aruncella (male) |
" |
" |
Broad purple fasciae |
M.tunbergella |
" |
" |
No fasciae, wing-base purple |
M.calthella |
" |
" |
No fasciae, wing-base purple in costal half only |
M.aruncella (female) |
I have found this last distinction to be problematic - several specimens appearing to show purple on only the costal part of the base have proven to be male M.calthella.
M.calthella showing rough-haired head, blue bare skin around eye, folded 5-segmented maxillary palps and small labial palps
M.calthella: underside of wings showing similarity in size, shape and venation with veins marked and numbered. Ref: MBGBI1
M.calthella: legs. The mid-tibia does show some apical spines but it lacks spurs
M.aruncella, male, thorax, dorsal view. Note that metathorax is almost as large as mesothorax. Tergite 1 appears unusual with sclerotisation largely confined to the periphery
M.aruncella, male, thorax, lateral view. This image also gives a good impression of comparative size of labial and maxillary palps in this family. I am not totally confident about the junction between thorax and abdomen, but if I have it right abdominal segment 1 appears not to have a sternite
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published December 2010 | Text amended 08/11/2015 | several images replaced 29/04/2020
