012 Argyresthia goedartella

ARGYRESTHIIDAE

20.012 Argyresthia (Argyresthia) goedartella (Golden Argent)

ws: 10-12mm; Jun-Sep; birch (Betula spp), alder (Alnus glutinosa); common throughout GB

Argyresthia goedartella §5

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

Variation
Dissection
Male genitalia
Female genitalia

§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