20.012 Argyresthia (Argyresthia) goedartella (Golden Argent)
ws: 10-12mm; Jun-Sep; birch (Betula spp), alder (Alnus glutinosa); common throughout GB
ID: A - forewing unicolorous shining bronzy gold; thorax not white > A.brockeella/goedartella. These two are separated in MBGBI3 on basis that in A.brockeella the forewing is deep bronzy gold, while in A.goedartella it is yellowish gold. On the limited evidence available to me so far I have found this to be an unreliable distinction. I suspect that plain specimens cannot be reliable separated without genital dissection.
B - forewing not unicolorous, basal third not entirely white, white on dorsum interrupted before 1/3, without 3 white transverse fasciae, with dark fascia near base; thorax and tegulae metallic brassy, central (dark) fascia separated from the terminal (dark) markings by an oblique white fascia (which may be suffused with ground colour) > A goedartella
B - forewing not unicolorous, basal third not entirely white, white on dorsum interrupted before 1/3, without 3 white transverse fasciae, with dark fascia near base; thorax and tegulae metallic brassy, central (dark) fascia separated from the terminal (dark) markings by an oblique white fascia (which may be suffused with ground colour) > A goedartella
§1 Newborough, Anglesey; 03/08/2007
§2 Thursley Common, Surrey; 16/06/2008; fw 5.2mm §3 Surlingham, Norfolk; 24/07/2009; male §4 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 20/07/2010 §5 Kinlochleven, Argyll; 05/07/2011 §6 Kinlochleven, Argyll; 05/07/2011 §7 Arne, Dorset; 05/07/2016 §8 Duddon Moss, Cumbria; 22/07/2016; netted by day §9 Seathwaite, Cumbria; 23/07/2016 All images © Chris Lewis |
§10 Strumpshaw Fen. Norfolk; 16/09/2018; female; fw 5.3mm
§11 Orlestone Forest, Kent; 24/06/2020; male; fw 4.8mm §12 St Mary's, Isles of Scilly; 22/08/2022; male; fw 5.2mm; specimen supplied by Mick Scott |
Page published 30/01/2012 (§1-6) | §7 added 10/09/2016 | §8&9 added 28/06/2017 | §10 added 07/02/2019 | §11 added 27/01/2021 |
§12 added 18/10/2022
§12 added 18/10/2022