62.015 Delplanqueia dilutella (Powdered Knot-horn)
ws: 18-23mm; Jul-Aug; wild thyme (Thymus polytrichus) and associated with yellow ants (Lasius flavus); local on limestone cliffs and grassy slopes on coasts throughout GB.
Delplanqueia dilutella §1 male
ID: Goater suggests this species is easy to identify "on account of the narrow reddish forewing with conspicuous pale second line". Pempeliela ornatella can be similar, but is larger (ws 23-27mm), less red, has an ochreous streak towards the dorsum and a straighter more oblique second line.
D.inscriptella has recently been split from D.dilutella. According to Norfolk Moths, it has a brown (rather than grey) ground colour and lacks the white subbasal fascia shown by D.dilutella - but §2 has a brown ground colour and a white subbasal fascia. Apparently most Norfolk individuals are now thought to be D.inscriptella. Genital images are shown at Moth Dissection.
D.inscriptella has recently been split from D.dilutella. According to Norfolk Moths, it has a brown (rather than grey) ground colour and lacks the white subbasal fascia shown by D.dilutella - but §2 has a brown ground colour and a white subbasal fascia. Apparently most Norfolk individuals are now thought to be D.inscriptella. Genital images are shown at Moth Dissection.
Dissection
Male genitalia
Female genitalia
§1 Mull; 30/06/2011; male; fw 9.9mm
§2 Portland, Dorset; 20/06/2015; female; fw 9.6mm; netted by day
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Portland, Dorset; 20/06/2015; female; fw 9.6mm; netted by day
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 23/03/2012 (§1) | Genus changed from Pempeliella 14/03/2014 | §2 added 02/03/2016