37.088 Coleophora atriplicis (Saltmarsh Case-bearer)
ws: 12-14mm; Jul-Aug; sea-purslane (Halimione portulacoides), sea-blite (Sueda spp), glasswort (Salicornia spp), grass-leaved orache (Atriplex littoralis); common on saltmarsh in England and Wales S of the Humber.
Coleophora atriplicis §2 female
Variant - with scattered fuscous scales along the veins
This specimen was obtained along with 2 male C.atriplicis in a light trap in my garden. It shows fairly marked fuscous scales and has genitalia typical of female C.atriplicis. The four species keyed from: Forewing with pale costa, remainder of forewing with obscure streaks; streaks overlaid with scattered fuscous scales are - C.asteris / C.saxicolella / C.sternipennella / C.salinella. C.salinella lacks a significant scobinate section of the ductus bursae. C.ateris has an elongate subgenital plate with a deep incision in its posterior margin. Both C.saxixolella and C.sternipennella show lateral emarginations in the posterior border of the subgenital plate so that the lateral margins of the ostial incision are produced posteriorly; the ostium of these two species is also relatively broad (>1/3 of the SGP width); and the introitus vaginae narrows to join the ductus bursae anterior to the anterior margin of the SGP. In C.atriplicis the ostial incision is short and narrow and lacks produced margins and there is no discernible broad section of introitus vaginae - instead the sclerotised lines in the ventral surface of the SGP flare laterally as they approach the anterior margin of the SGP.
This specimen was obtained along with 2 male C.atriplicis in a light trap in my garden. It shows fairly marked fuscous scales and has genitalia typical of female C.atriplicis. The four species keyed from: Forewing with pale costa, remainder of forewing with obscure streaks; streaks overlaid with scattered fuscous scales are - C.asteris / C.saxicolella / C.sternipennella / C.salinella. C.salinella lacks a significant scobinate section of the ductus bursae. C.ateris has an elongate subgenital plate with a deep incision in its posterior margin. Both C.saxixolella and C.sternipennella show lateral emarginations in the posterior border of the subgenital plate so that the lateral margins of the ostial incision are produced posteriorly; the ostium of these two species is also relatively broad (>1/3 of the SGP width); and the introitus vaginae narrows to join the ductus bursae anterior to the anterior margin of the SGP. In C.atriplicis the ostial incision is short and narrow and lacks produced margins and there is no discernible broad section of introitus vaginae - instead the sclerotised lines in the ventral surface of the SGP flare laterally as they approach the anterior margin of the SGP.
Coleophora atriplicis §4 female
§1 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 02/07/2010; female; fw 6.7mm
§2 Snettisham, Norfolk; 12/06/2014; female; fw 6.8mm
§3 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 01/07/2015; male; fw 5.8 (very worn); to light
§4 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 01/07/2015; female; fw 6.3mm; to light (variant with scattered fuscous scales along veins)
§5 Arne, Dorset; 03/07/2016; male; fw 5.7mm; to light
§6 Arne, Dorset; 03/07/2016; female; fw 6.7mm; to light
§7 Arne, Dorset; 03/07/2016; male; to light
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Snettisham, Norfolk; 12/06/2014; female; fw 6.8mm
§3 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 01/07/2015; male; fw 5.8 (very worn); to light
§4 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 01/07/2015; female; fw 6.3mm; to light (variant with scattered fuscous scales along veins)
§5 Arne, Dorset; 03/07/2016; male; fw 5.7mm; to light
§6 Arne, Dorset; 03/07/2016; female; fw 6.7mm; to light
§7 Arne, Dorset; 03/07/2016; male; to light
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published March 2011 (§1) | §2 added and text amended 26/12/2014 | §3&4 added and text amended 11/11/2015 | §5-7 added 21/09/2016
