63.110 Pediasia aridella (Saltern Grass-moth)
ws: 20-26mm; Jun-Aug; common saltmarsh grass (Puccinellia maritima); NS-B dry margins of saltings of S&E England from Yorkshire to Isle of Wight.
Note that §1 was taken near the Kent estuary in NW England.
Note that §1 was taken near the Kent estuary in NW England.
Pediasia aridella §2 male
ID: Forewing with dark longitudinal streak and two angled cross-lines; hindwing with a dark spot near the tornus or a dark partial subterminal line.
In P.contaminella the longitudinal streak is absent, the subterminal line is jagged with a tooth as it crosses each vein and the hindwing is unmarked.
In A.inquinatella there is a white longitudinal streak and the dark longitudinal markings are dorsal to this; again the hindwing is unmarked.
Male genitalia: The Pediasia species differ markedly from the Agriphila species and having a strongly sclerotised separate costa. In P.aridella the costa is longer than in P.contaminella.
In P.contaminella the longitudinal streak is absent, the subterminal line is jagged with a tooth as it crosses each vein and the hindwing is unmarked.
In A.inquinatella there is a white longitudinal streak and the dark longitudinal markings are dorsal to this; again the hindwing is unmarked.
Male genitalia: The Pediasia species differ markedly from the Agriphila species and having a strongly sclerotised separate costa. In P.aridella the costa is longer than in P.contaminella.
§1 Arnside, Cumbria; 26/07/92013; male; fw 11.8mm
§2 Snettisham, Norfolk; 12/06/2014; male; fw 12.7mm
§3 Foulness, Essex; 27/06/2015; male; fw 12.5mm; to light
§4 Foulness, Essex; 13/06/2020; male; fw 11.1mm
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Snettisham, Norfolk; 12/06/2014; male; fw 12.7mm
§3 Foulness, Essex; 27/06/2015; male; fw 12.5mm; to light
§4 Foulness, Essex; 13/06/2020; male; fw 11.1mm
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 09/12/2013 (§1) | §2 added 26/12/2014 | §3 added 06/02/2016 | §4 added 21/01/2021
