04.074 Etainia sericopeza (Norway Maple Dot)
ws: 6-8mm (MBGBI1); bivoltine May, Aug; seed-mine Jun, Sep-Apr; Norway maple (Acer platanoides); NS-A SE England
Synonym: Ectoedemia (Etainia) sericopeza
Synonym: Ectoedemia (Etainia) sericopeza
Etainia sericopeza §1 female
ID: Forewing with a broad complete whitish antemedian fascia, basal and postmedian costal and dorsal spots > (sub)genus Etainia.
E.decentella is readily distinguished by having a whitish thorax and black head.
E.louisella and E.sericopeza are very similar. Johansson et al (1990) states that 1) E.sericopeza averages larger (ws 6.1-7.6 vs 5.7-6.6mm); 2) the collar is usually darker in E.louisella (yellowish-white and paler than the frontal tuft in E.sericopeza, ochreous in E.louisella) and 3) E.sericopeza has more antennal segments (♂ 45-56 vs 45-49, ♀ 35-43 vs 33-35). I have also observed a difference in the pattern of androconial scales on the forewing underside which may be diagnostic in the male. Genital determination will fairly readily distinguish males but genital differences in the female are more difficult to be sure of.
Male genitalia: In E.sericopeza the pseuduncus tapers from its base to a narrow apex; in E.louisella it tapers less and the apex is broader. In E.sericopeza the processes extending anteriorly from the transtilla are long (each ~⅔ the length of the bar between them); in E.louisella they are shorter (each ~ ½ the length of the bar between them).
Female genitalia: Based on comparison of images at Moth Dissection it appears that the main distinguishing features are: the length of a ventral medial process associated with the anal papillae - about twice as long in E.sericopeza; the shape of a pair of sclerites in the antrum - transverse in E.sericopeza, more rounded in E.louisella. It may be that the appearance of both these features varies with the position achieved in setting such that it is difficult to be fully confident in an ID based only on the female genitalia.
E.decentella is readily distinguished by having a whitish thorax and black head.
E.louisella and E.sericopeza are very similar. Johansson et al (1990) states that 1) E.sericopeza averages larger (ws 6.1-7.6 vs 5.7-6.6mm); 2) the collar is usually darker in E.louisella (yellowish-white and paler than the frontal tuft in E.sericopeza, ochreous in E.louisella) and 3) E.sericopeza has more antennal segments (♂ 45-56 vs 45-49, ♀ 35-43 vs 33-35). I have also observed a difference in the pattern of androconial scales on the forewing underside which may be diagnostic in the male. Genital determination will fairly readily distinguish males but genital differences in the female are more difficult to be sure of.
Male genitalia: In E.sericopeza the pseuduncus tapers from its base to a narrow apex; in E.louisella it tapers less and the apex is broader. In E.sericopeza the processes extending anteriorly from the transtilla are long (each ~⅔ the length of the bar between them); in E.louisella they are shorter (each ~ ½ the length of the bar between them).
Female genitalia: Based on comparison of images at Moth Dissection it appears that the main distinguishing features are: the length of a ventral medial process associated with the anal papillae - about twice as long in E.sericopeza; the shape of a pair of sclerites in the antrum - transverse in E.sericopeza, more rounded in E.louisella. It may be that the appearance of both these features varies with the position achieved in setting such that it is difficult to be fully confident in an ID based only on the female genitalia.
§1 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 07/09/2021; female; fw 3.6mm; to light; 4th Essex record
§2 Boreham, Essex; 08/09/2023; male; fw 2.9mm; specimen provided by Graham Ekins
§3 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 12/08/2024; male; fw 3.2mm
§4 Darlington, Durham; ??/??/2024; female; fw 3.4mm; specimen provided by Chris Bell
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Boreham, Essex; 08/09/2023; male; fw 2.9mm; specimen provided by Graham Ekins
§3 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 12/08/2024; male; fw 3.2mm
§4 Darlington, Durham; ??/??/2024; female; fw 3.4mm; specimen provided by Chris Bell
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 29/09/2021 (§1) | §2 added 19/09/2023 | §3 added 15/10/2024 | §4 added 20/10/2024
