15.021 Leucospilapteryx omissella (Mugwort Stilt)
ws:7-8mm (MBGBI2); bivoltine May,Aug; mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris); NS-B locally common in waste ground in SE.England
ID: This species can be suspected from its appearance of a miniature Caloptilia. Keyed as: head smooth, hindtibia with bristles > Acrocercops brongniardella / Dialectica imperialella / Leucospliapteryx omisella
These three are separated in the key in MBGBI2 by A.brogniardella - forewing irrorate brownish-fuscous, a projecting dark pencil in terminal cilia; D.imperialella - forewing ground colour shining orange-brown, pattern silvery white, no projecting dark pencil in terminal cilia;
L.omisella - forewing ground colour pale fuscous, irrorate darker, pattern dull white, no projecting pencil in terminal cilia.
D.scalariella is dark brown with a white diamond-back pattern. L.omisella has a silvery-grey head and thorax; white labial palps, S2 with an apical fuscous band, S3 with a median fuscous band.
Male genitalia:
Female genitalia:
These three are separated in the key in MBGBI2 by A.brogniardella - forewing irrorate brownish-fuscous, a projecting dark pencil in terminal cilia; D.imperialella - forewing ground colour shining orange-brown, pattern silvery white, no projecting dark pencil in terminal cilia;
L.omisella - forewing ground colour pale fuscous, irrorate darker, pattern dull white, no projecting pencil in terminal cilia.
D.scalariella is dark brown with a white diamond-back pattern. L.omisella has a silvery-grey head and thorax; white labial palps, S2 with an apical fuscous band, S3 with a median fuscous band.
Male genitalia:
Female genitalia:
§1 Foulness, Essex; 17/08/2024; female; fw 3.8mm
§2 Foulness, Essex; 17/08/2024; female; fw 3.8mm
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Foulness, Essex; 17/08/2024; female; fw 3.8mm
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 26/09/2024 (§1&2)