63.120 Schoenobius gigantella (Giant Water-veneer)
ws: m25-30mm, f41-46mm; Jul (Aug); common reed (Phragmites australis), reed sweet-grass (Glyceria maxima); local in reed-beds in England
Schoenobius gigantella §2 male
ID: Labial palps exceed length of head and thorax combined.
Male varies considerably in shade from light ochreous fuscous to dark blackish fuscous but it is readily identified by examination of the hindwing which shows postmedian and terminal bands of short dark streaks (no other member of this subfamily or any member of subfamily: Crambinae show this hindwing pattern).
Female is commonly plain ochreous brown but may show scattered dark spots and occasionally has a heavy blackish suffusion; its hindwing is pure white. Distinguished from all similar species by large size. Chilo phragmitella has the costa concave near the apex, Donacaula forficella has a concave termen.
Male varies considerably in shade from light ochreous fuscous to dark blackish fuscous but it is readily identified by examination of the hindwing which shows postmedian and terminal bands of short dark streaks (no other member of this subfamily or any member of subfamily: Crambinae show this hindwing pattern).
Female is commonly plain ochreous brown but may show scattered dark spots and occasionally has a heavy blackish suffusion; its hindwing is pure white. Distinguished from all similar species by large size. Chilo phragmitella has the costa concave near the apex, Donacaula forficella has a concave termen.
§1 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 15/07/2008; female
§2 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 15/07/2008; male; fw 13.2mm
§3 Foulness, Essex; 04/07/2010; female
§4 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 28/07/2012; male; fw 12.5mm
§5 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 28/07/2012; female; fw 19.6mm
§6 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 10/07/2015; female; fw 19.2mm; to light
§7 Foulness, Essex; 09/07/0222; female; fw 18.4mm
§8 Foulness, Essex; 08/07/2023; male; fw 12.5mm
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 15/07/2008; male; fw 13.2mm
§3 Foulness, Essex; 04/07/2010; female
§4 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 28/07/2012; male; fw 12.5mm
§5 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 28/07/2012; female; fw 19.6mm
§6 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 10/07/2015; female; fw 19.2mm; to light
§7 Foulness, Essex; 09/07/0222; female; fw 18.4mm
§8 Foulness, Essex; 08/07/2023; male; fw 12.5mm
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 08/02/2012 | Specimens §4&5 added 01/11/2012 | §6 added 27/12/2015 | §7 added 14/12/2022 | §8 added 04/10/2023
