FAMILY 02: ERIOCRANIIDAE (3G 8S)Suborder: Glossata; Infraorder: Dacnonypha; Superfamily: Eriocranoidea
Ref: MBGBI1 |
Wings homoneurous, female with single genital opening on segment 9-10, proboscis present
Although the first two of these three features apply to all moths in Infraorder: Dacnonypha they are insufficient to distinguish from Suborder: Zeugloptera. Internationally, not all moths in Infraorder: Dacnonypha possess a proboscis, but this feature does separate Family: Eriocraniidae from Suborder: Zeugloptera.
Eriocrania (6S), Dyseriocrania, Paracrania (description from MBGBI1 which includes all species in Eriocrania)
Small (ws 9-16mm), diurnal, metallic golden or purple
Head rough-haired. Ocelli present. Antennae <1/2 to 3/5 length of forewing.
Maxillary palps long, 5-segmented, folded at rest; proboscis short; labial palps 3-segmented; mandibles reduced to rounded lobes.
Wings lanceolate, venation of hindwing similar to forewing, forewing with jugum.
Midtibia with a single apical spur.
Male genitalia: uncus bilobed, valvae much reduced
Ovipositor extensile, piercing
Larva leaf-mines
Although the first two of these three features apply to all moths in Infraorder: Dacnonypha they are insufficient to distinguish from Suborder: Zeugloptera. Internationally, not all moths in Infraorder: Dacnonypha possess a proboscis, but this feature does separate Family: Eriocraniidae from Suborder: Zeugloptera.
Eriocrania (6S), Dyseriocrania, Paracrania (description from MBGBI1 which includes all species in Eriocrania)
Small (ws 9-16mm), diurnal, metallic golden or purple
Head rough-haired. Ocelli present. Antennae <1/2 to 3/5 length of forewing.
Maxillary palps long, 5-segmented, folded at rest; proboscis short; labial palps 3-segmented; mandibles reduced to rounded lobes.
Wings lanceolate, venation of hindwing similar to forewing, forewing with jugum.
Midtibia with a single apical spur.
Male genitalia: uncus bilobed, valvae much reduced
Ovipositor extensile, piercing
Larva leaf-mines
|
Dyseriocrania
001 Dyseriocrania subpurpurella (Common Spring Jewel) 
|
Paracrania
002 Paracrania chrysolepidella (Hazel Spring Jewel) 
|
Eriocrania (6S)
|
003 Eriocrania unimaculella
(White-spotted Spring Jewel) 
|
004 Eriocrania sparrmannella
(Splendid Spring Jewel) ws 10-13mm; Apr-May; leaf-mine birch (Betula spp) Jun-Aug; local in birch woodland throughout Britain. |
|
005 Eriocrania salopiella
(Yellow-headed Spring Jewel) |
006 Eriocrania cicatricella
(Small Spring Jewel) |
|
|
|
007 Eriocrania semipurpurella
(Large Spring Jewel) 
|
008 Eriocrania sangii
(Purple Spring Jewel) 
|
 Dyseriocrania subpurpurella: showing rough-haired head and ocellus 
Eriocrania unimaculella; forewing venation
 Dyseriocrania subpurpurella: showing single apical midtibial spur |
 Dyseriocrania subpurpurella, showing extended 5-segmented maxillary palps 
Eriocrania unimaculella; hindwing venation
|
All images © Chris Lewis
Page amended 22/04/2018
