49.105 Gynnidomorpha vectisana (Saltern Straw)
ws: 9-12mm; May-Sep; arrowgrass (Triglochin spp); local in saltmarsh, freshmarsh, wet heath in England and Wales
Synonyms: Phalonidia vectisana (BTM); Genus 18 - vectisana (Pierce and Metcalfe)
Synonyms: Phalonidia vectisana (BTM); Genus 18 - vectisana (Pierce and Metcalfe)
Gynnidomorpha vectisana §1 male
ID: The 5 Gynnidomorpha species are similar and on external appearance Phalonidia manniana also needs to be considered.
Combining features given in BTM and by Sterling & Parsons, the critical features are:
P.manniana - ws: 10-13mm, fw: 5-6mm; light ground colour, contrasting blackish admixture in dorsal part of median fascia; fasciate preapical marking well-defined and reaching tornus.
G.minimana - ws: 11-14mm, fw: 6-7mm; more angulate median fascia (than G.alismana)
G.permixtana - ws: 10-12mm; fw: 5-6mm; blackish-grey suffusion in middle of distal margin of median fascia, grey suffusion in distal half of forewing; greyish or brownish shading along the costa, especially in basal half.
G.vectisana - ws: 9-11mm, fw 4-6mm; small size, olive-brown general colour, reticulation in distal area of forewing; ranges from almost unicolorous with obscure markings to well-marked with a strongly developed median fascia and preapical spot.
G.alismana - ws: 11-14mm, fw 6-7mm; less angulate median fascia (than G.minimana), preapical spot strigulate or fractured in tornal area
G.luridana - ws: 11-13mm, fw 5-6mm; comparatively uniform whitish-ochreous ground colour, pale ochreous-brown markings
Male genitalia: Pierce & Metcalfe refer to Gynnidomorpha as Genus 18 and comment: "this genus has given infinite trouble in the past as regards the identity of the species. The genitalia now offer a certain amount of security...... Valva long, delicate; costa and sacculus very weak; transtilla a central arm curved, indent; saccus practically divided. Uncus absent; socii well developed and firm, the chief specific character. Aedeagus cardinate, sigmoid, pointed. Cornutus a single spine". They then describe the profile of the socii for each species:
G.alismana - "..broad, slightly arched, and quickly reduced to a point set with fine hairs"
G.luridana - "..broad, very slightly arched, scarcely reduced to a rounded point set with long, stout hairs"
G.vectisana - "..broad, gently arched and tapered to a point set with short, stout hairs"
G.minimana - "..broad, acutely arched, emarginate to a point set with fine, short bristles"
G.permixtana - "..broad, acutely arched, tapered to a point set with fine, short bristles"
Combining features given in BTM and by Sterling & Parsons, the critical features are:
P.manniana - ws: 10-13mm, fw: 5-6mm; light ground colour, contrasting blackish admixture in dorsal part of median fascia; fasciate preapical marking well-defined and reaching tornus.
G.minimana - ws: 11-14mm, fw: 6-7mm; more angulate median fascia (than G.alismana)
G.permixtana - ws: 10-12mm; fw: 5-6mm; blackish-grey suffusion in middle of distal margin of median fascia, grey suffusion in distal half of forewing; greyish or brownish shading along the costa, especially in basal half.
G.vectisana - ws: 9-11mm, fw 4-6mm; small size, olive-brown general colour, reticulation in distal area of forewing; ranges from almost unicolorous with obscure markings to well-marked with a strongly developed median fascia and preapical spot.
G.alismana - ws: 11-14mm, fw 6-7mm; less angulate median fascia (than G.minimana), preapical spot strigulate or fractured in tornal area
G.luridana - ws: 11-13mm, fw 5-6mm; comparatively uniform whitish-ochreous ground colour, pale ochreous-brown markings
Male genitalia: Pierce & Metcalfe refer to Gynnidomorpha as Genus 18 and comment: "this genus has given infinite trouble in the past as regards the identity of the species. The genitalia now offer a certain amount of security...... Valva long, delicate; costa and sacculus very weak; transtilla a central arm curved, indent; saccus practically divided. Uncus absent; socii well developed and firm, the chief specific character. Aedeagus cardinate, sigmoid, pointed. Cornutus a single spine". They then describe the profile of the socii for each species:
G.alismana - "..broad, slightly arched, and quickly reduced to a point set with fine hairs"
G.luridana - "..broad, very slightly arched, scarcely reduced to a rounded point set with long, stout hairs"
G.vectisana - "..broad, gently arched and tapered to a point set with short, stout hairs"
G.minimana - "..broad, acutely arched, emarginate to a point set with fine, short bristles"
G.permixtana - "..broad, acutely arched, tapered to a point set with fine, short bristles"
§1 St Lawrence, Isle of Wight; 31/05/2014; male; fw 5.1mm
§2 St Lawrence, Isle of Wight; 31/05/2014; female
§3 Foulness, Essex; 19/07/2024; male; fw 4.7mm
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 St Lawrence, Isle of Wight; 31/05/2014; female
§3 Foulness, Essex; 19/07/2024; male; fw 4.7mm
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 15/06/2014 (§1) | §2 added 29/01/2015 | §3 added 11/10/2024
