38.033 Elachista subnigrella (Dingy Grass-miner)
ws: 7-8mm; bivoltine May-Jun, Aug, univoltine -Jul- in W.Scotland; upright brome (Bromopsis erecta), downy oat-grass (Helictotrichon pubescens);
NS-B local in dry open grassland in England, N.Wales, SE & W.Scotland
NS-B local in dry open grassland in England, N.Wales, SE & W.Scotland
Elachista subnigrella §2 male
ID: Forewing dark with (indistinct) pale costal and tornal spots with a variably expressed pale median fascia. Group F/G. Requires genital dissection.
Dissection
Male genitalia: Uncus lobes separated by a V-shaped notch narrower than an uncus lobe; dorsum of valva without a distinct hump; aedeagus swollen subapically and notched at apex. MBGBI3 states that this species has a single small cornutus and illustrates 3 examples, each with one medium-sized cornutus and one of which has an additional small cornutus; the image at Moth Dissection shows one medium and one small cornutus. §1&2 have one and two medium cornuti respectively. The preapical swelling of the aedeagus is mentioned in the text in MBGBI3 as a diagnostic feature and is illustrated in all 3 examples shown there and is not ilustrated for any other Elachista species; it is seen in both §1&2 - but it is not seen in the image at Moth Dissection.
§1 Foulden Common, Norfolk; 14/08/2016; male; fw 3.3mm; to light
§2 Foulden Common, Norfolk; 14/08/2016; male; fw 3.1mm; to light
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Foulden Common, Norfolk; 14/08/2016; male; fw 3.1mm; to light
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 26/12/2016 (§1&2)
