32.036 Depressaria radiella (Parsnip Moth)
ws: 24-29mm; Aug-May; hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa); locally common throughout GB, especially in coastal areas. (Note that specimen §2 with a fw length of 14.5mm would have a wingspan of ~ 30.5mm)
Synonym: Depressaria pastinacella (MBGBI4.1), Depressaria heraclei
Synonym: Depressaria pastinacella (MBGBI4.1), Depressaria heraclei
Depressaria radiella §1 male
ID: From key in MBGBI4.1 - Fw costal 2/5 not contrastingly reddish, without round white dot in disc at 2/3 >
A. labial palp S3 blackish with pale tip; thorax paler than forewing > D.chaerophylli ! OR
B. labial palp S3 with 2 dark bands; fw without whitish suffusion along costa, with a row discrete terminal dots > D.heraclei
These 2 species can be distinguished on size: ws 24-29mm vs 19-22mm, but otherwise seems to appear very similar on external features although D.chaerophylli does show a reddish tinge to the forewing base.
Male genitalia: In D.heraclei the posterior angle of the valva is rounded and the apex of the aedeagus is pointed while in D.chaerophylli the posterior angle of the valva is pointed and the apex of the aedeagus is rounded.
Female genitalia: In D.heraclei the ductus bursae expands gradually without any clear demarcation from the corpus bursae and the near the ostium the ductus bursae is weakly sclerotised; while in D.chaerophylli there is a clear demarcation between ductus and corpus bursae and the ductus bursae is moderately well sclerotised in the posterior 1/3 to 1/2 this sclerotisation being continuous with the ostium.
A. labial palp S3 blackish with pale tip; thorax paler than forewing > D.chaerophylli ! OR
B. labial palp S3 with 2 dark bands; fw without whitish suffusion along costa, with a row discrete terminal dots > D.heraclei
These 2 species can be distinguished on size: ws 24-29mm vs 19-22mm, but otherwise seems to appear very similar on external features although D.chaerophylli does show a reddish tinge to the forewing base.
Male genitalia: In D.heraclei the posterior angle of the valva is rounded and the apex of the aedeagus is pointed while in D.chaerophylli the posterior angle of the valva is pointed and the apex of the aedeagus is rounded.
Female genitalia: In D.heraclei the ductus bursae expands gradually without any clear demarcation from the corpus bursae and the near the ostium the ductus bursae is weakly sclerotised; while in D.chaerophylli there is a clear demarcation between ductus and corpus bursae and the ductus bursae is moderately well sclerotised in the posterior 1/3 to 1/2 this sclerotisation being continuous with the ostium.
§1 Galmpton, Devon; 24/07/2010; male; fw 12.3mm
§2 St Marys, Isles of Scilly; 05/10/2012; female; fw 14.5mm
§3 Bernwood Forest, Oxfordshire; 17/08/2017; male; fw 11.7mm
§4 Foulness, Essex; 14/08/2021
§5 Glen Urquart, Inverness-shire; 18/09/2021; female; fw 12.5mm
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 St Marys, Isles of Scilly; 05/10/2012; female; fw 14.5mm
§3 Bernwood Forest, Oxfordshire; 17/08/2017; male; fw 11.7mm
§4 Foulness, Essex; 14/08/2021
§5 Glen Urquart, Inverness-shire; 18/09/2021; female; fw 12.5mm
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 07/12/2011 | Specimen §2 added and text amended 14/10/2012 | Species changed from heraclei 10/03/2014 |
§3 added 18/04/2018 | §4 added 14/12/2021. | §5 added 30/12/2021
§3 added 18/04/2018 | §4 added 14/12/2021. | §5 added 30/12/2021
