49.072 Acleris effractana (Northern Scalloped Tortrix)
ws: 21-23mm, fw: 8-11mm (Sterling & Parsons); Jul-Oct; purple/grey willow (Salix purpurea/cinerea); status uncertain but occurs mainly in Scotland
Until recently considered conspecific with A.emargana
Until recently considered conspecific with A.emargana
ID: A.emargana and A.effractana are both characterised by having a distinct costal concavity. In A.effractana the costal concavity is shallower. The forewing may also show groups of raised scales - in A.effractana these are blackish, while in A.emargana they are whitish. The two species are both quite variable and similar enough that genital determination is required for confident ID.
Male genitalia: The socii of A.effractana are longer than those of A.emargana. In Acleris species the central projection of the tegumen is the anal tube which in both A.effractana and A.emargana is well-developed, highly chitinised and extends beyond (posterior to) the posterior border of the uncus. The uncus itself is relatively weak, bifid and is partly obscured by the anal tube in the standard slide preparation*. In A.effractana the socii extend beyond the apex of the uncus to be more or less level with the apex of the anal tube; in A.emargana the socii extend roughly to a level with the posterior border of the uncus and not as far as the apex of the anal tube. *It is clear that neither Moth Dissection nor the authors of MBGBI5.1 have understood this - the anal tube is labelled as the uncus in the illustration showing the difference between these species on p36 of MBGBI5.1. Female genitalia: |
Dissection
Male genitalia
Socii long extending beyond the posterior border of the uncus (B) to a level with the apex of the anal tube (A)
Socii long extending beyond the posterior border of the uncus (B) to a level with the apex of the anal tube (A)
§1 Barra (Outer Hebrides); 14/09/2017; to light
§2 Arrochar, Argyll; 15/09/2017; male; fw 8.3mm; to light
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Arrochar, Argyll; 15/09/2017; male; fw 8.3mm; to light
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 17/09/2017 (§1&2) | dissection images of §2 added 29/11/2017