37.095 Coleophora trochilella (Verge Case-bearer)
ws: 11-14mm; Jul-Aug; mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare); locally common on downland and grassy slopes especially near the sea and open scrubland in England and Wales.
Coleophora trochilella §1 male
ID: Forewing with longitudinal white/pale streaks, with oblique streaks on or between veins extending to costa and without scattered fuscous scales >25 species
Male Genitalia: Sacculus with a distinct anterior process which is twice as broad as the posterior process.
This identification was initially quite confusing as the posterior process appears to curve in (medially) to cross the valva as in C.peribenanderi/gardesanella. However, neither of these species has a distinct anterior process or a significant tooth at the base of the posterior process. The problem was solved when I realised that the posterior process only appears to curve out (laterally) in C.trochilella when it is forced flat - in reality the natural position for the posterior process when the rest of the sacculus is flattened is to point up at ~90 deg to the plane.
Male Genitalia: Sacculus with a distinct anterior process which is twice as broad as the posterior process.
This identification was initially quite confusing as the posterior process appears to curve in (medially) to cross the valva as in C.peribenanderi/gardesanella. However, neither of these species has a distinct anterior process or a significant tooth at the base of the posterior process. The problem was solved when I realised that the posterior process only appears to curve out (laterally) in C.trochilella when it is forced flat - in reality the natural position for the posterior process when the rest of the sacculus is flattened is to point up at ~90 deg to the plane.
DIssection
Male genitalia
§1 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 20/07/2010; male; fw 6.0mm
§2 Foulness, Essex; 06/07/2009; male; fw 6.5mm
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Foulness, Essex; 06/07/2009; male; fw 6.5mm
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published November 2011 (§1-2)
