49.231 Epinotia brunnichana (Large Birch Bell)
ws: 18-22mm; Jul-Aug; birch (Betula spp), hazel (Corylus avellana), willows (Salix spp); common throughout GB
Synonym: Astatia sinuana (Pierce & Metcalfe)
Synonym: Astatia sinuana (Pierce & Metcalfe)
Epinotia brunnichana §1 male f.brunneana
ID: Polymorphic. In the common forms brunneana and albodorsana - general colour greyish-ochreous to pinkish-brown; distal margin of subbasal fascia strongly angled (pointing distally), dorsal portion of subbasal fascia strengthened with black from the angle to the dorsum; median fascia strongly oblique, narrow at costa, broader medially and confluent with pre-tornal marking. Form albodorsana differs from form brunneana in having a conspicuous white dorsal blotch bounded by the median and subbasal fasciae. The nominate form (brunnichana) is rare in Britain; the basic pattern is the same but it has a whiter ground colour with grey markings and strigulae. Form brunneodorsana is also rare; it has a diffuse semiovate black dorsal blotch from subbasal fascia to tornus.
§1 Warton Crag, Lancashire; 25/07/2013; male; form brunneana; fw 9.2mm
§2 Foulden Common, Norfolk; 14/08/2016; male; form albodorsana (but very worn)
§3 Seathwaite, Cumbria; 22/07/2016; male; form albodorsana; fw 8.8mm
§4 Seathwaite, Cumbria; 27/07/2016; male; form brunneodorsana; fw 10.0mm
§5 Foulden Common, Norfolk; 29/06/2017; male; fw 9.6mm; form brunneana
§6 Muir of Dinnet, Aberdeenshire; 22/09/2019; female; fw 8.1mm
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Foulden Common, Norfolk; 14/08/2016; male; form albodorsana (but very worn)
§3 Seathwaite, Cumbria; 22/07/2016; male; form albodorsana; fw 8.8mm
§4 Seathwaite, Cumbria; 27/07/2016; male; form brunneodorsana; fw 10.0mm
§5 Foulden Common, Norfolk; 29/06/2017; male; fw 9.6mm; form brunneana
§6 Muir of Dinnet, Aberdeenshire; 22/09/2019; female; fw 8.1mm
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 06/12/2013 (§1) | §2 added 17/04/2017 | §3&4 added 02/07/2017 | §5 added 07/10/2017 | §6 added 18/12/2019
