38.022 Elachista gleichenella (Twin-barred Dwarf)
ws: 8-9mm (MBGBI3); May-Aug; various wood-rush and sedge species; local in woodland throughout Britain (Essex Red Data list)
Elachista gleichenella §1 male
ID: Group G - dark with pale costal and tornal spots and other pale markings. The obvious metallic sheen of the pale markings restricts the choice to E.apicipunctella, E.gleichenella, E.regificella, E.geminitella, E.tengstromi and Stephensia brunnichella. It is possible that this species can be identified on external features on the basis of the metallic greyish head and forewing base and the complete median fascia. In E.regificella, E.tengstromi and E.geminatella the median fascia reaches only halfway across the wing from the dorsum (these three species were considered conspecific in MBGBI3). In E.apicipunctella the head is white. In S.brunnichella the antenna has a broad white band at 2/3.
Male genitalia: Uncus rounded, unlobed; valva with a distinct cucullus (one of the more distinctive Elachista spp)
Male genitalia: Uncus rounded, unlobed; valva with a distinct cucullus (one of the more distinctive Elachista spp)
§1 Pound Wood, Essex; 30/06/2019; male; fw 3.2mm
§2 Pound Wood, Essex; 03/06/2020; male; fw 3.1mm
§3 Kishorn, Ross & Cromarty; 23/06/2022; male
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Pound Wood, Essex; 03/06/2020; male; fw 3.1mm
§3 Kishorn, Ross & Cromarty; 23/06/2022; male
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 07/07/2019 (§1) | §2 added 10/06/2020 | §3 added 11/12/2022
