15.0131 Caloptilia honoratella (Pale Maple Stilt)
ws: 12mm (Norfolk Moths), 10-12.5mm (Lepiforum); Jul-May; sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus); first British record Surrey 2017, now spreading across SC, SE England and East Anglia
Caloptilia honoratella §1 female
ID: Forewing with a yellow median costal blotch extending distally along the costa, with a red-brown fascia at its proximal margin. Very similar to C.hemidactyla. May be suspected by the yellow forewing base proximal to the red-brown fascia, similar in colour to the costal blotch; in C.hemidactyla this area is a shade of brown paler than the fascia but not as pale as the costal blotch. Genital determination required.
Male genitalia: In C.honoratella the vesica/ductus ejaculatorius contains a narrow lightly sclerotised ribbon; in C.hemidactylella it contains a line of (~10) small cornuti and a larger distal (apical) cornutus. There is also a difference in the shape of the valval apex, that of C.honoratella being more smoothly rounded.
Female genitalia: In C.honoratella the ductus bursae is hyaline, straight, narrow and studded with small spicules.
In C.hemidactyla it is sclerotised, with a complete coil at ½, relatively broad and without spicules.
Male genitalia: In C.honoratella the vesica/ductus ejaculatorius contains a narrow lightly sclerotised ribbon; in C.hemidactylella it contains a line of (~10) small cornuti and a larger distal (apical) cornutus. There is also a difference in the shape of the valval apex, that of C.honoratella being more smoothly rounded.
Female genitalia: In C.honoratella the ductus bursae is hyaline, straight, narrow and studded with small spicules.
In C.hemidactyla it is sclerotised, with a complete coil at ½, relatively broad and without spicules.
§1 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 11/07/2022; female; fw 5.6mm, specimen provided by Anthony Bentley
§2 Boreham, essex; 15/07/2023; male; fw 5.5mm; specimen provided by Graham Ekins
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Boreham, essex; 15/07/2023; male; fw 5.5mm; specimen provided by Graham Ekins
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 21/07/2022 (§1) | §2 added 13/08/2023 and text augmented | text amended 19/09/2023
