32.010 Agonopterix conterminella (Willow Brown)
ws: 17-19mm; Jul-Sep; sallows & willows (Salix spp); local in damp woodland, fens and marshes throughout GB except N Scot
Agonopterix conterminella §1
ID: A.liturosa is similar. It is separated in the key in MBGBI4.1 by A.conterminella having the tegulae concolorous with the thorax (the colour of both thorax and tegulae varying from pale buff to brownish fuscous). The text also mentions that the underside of S2 of labial palp is pale buff in A.liturosa and brownish fuscous in A.conterminella. The tegulae of A.liturosa are described as "dark purplish brown paling posteriorly to pinkish-brown or sometimes buff". In specimen §1 the tegulae fit the above description and the tegulae as a whole are not concolorous with the thorax - for these reasons this specimen was initially identified as A.liturosa (until I obtained a specimen that is definitely A.liturosa and reidentified §1). However, most web images labelled as A.conterminella show a transverse basal demarcation between a pale forewing base and the dark purplish subbasal area; while most web images labelled as A.liturosa show the entire base of the forewing and the tegulae dark purplish.
Dissection
Male genitalia
Female genitalia
§1 Horsey, Norfolk; 14/07/2008; fw 9.0mm
§2 Dungeness, Kent; 03/07/2018; male; fw 8.2mm
§3 Dungeness, Kent; 03/07/2018; female; fw 8.7mm
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Dungeness, Kent; 03/07/2018; male; fw 8.2mm
§3 Dungeness, Kent; 03/07/2018; female; fw 8.7mm
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 10/09/2017 (§1) | §2&3 added 14/05/2019
