Suborder:Glossata Infraorder:Heteroneura Superfamily:Gelechioidea
All British species are in Subfamily: Symmocinae
Tribe: Oegoconiini - Genus: Oegoconia (3S)
Tribe: Symmocini - Genus: Symmoca (1DB)
Head smooth scaled;Antenna without pecten; Maxillary palps folded, scaled, 4-segmented
Labial palps erect, S2 thickened with scales ventrally, S3 long and pointed
Hindtarsus with long scale-tuft on dorsal surface; Forewing V7&8 forked, V1c absent; Hindwing subtriangular; V6&7 stalked, V3&4 connate
All British species are in Subfamily: Symmocinae
Tribe: Oegoconiini - Genus: Oegoconia (3S)
Tribe: Symmocini - Genus: Symmoca (1DB)
Head smooth scaled;Antenna without pecten; Maxillary palps folded, scaled, 4-segmented
Labial palps erect, S2 thickened with scales ventrally, S3 long and pointed
Hindtarsus with long scale-tuft on dorsal surface; Forewing V7&8 forked, V1c absent; Hindwing subtriangular; V6&7 stalked, V3&4 connate
Oegoconia (3S)
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001 Oegoconia quadripuncta
(Four-spotted Obscure) 
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002 Oegoconia caradjai
(Straw Obscure) 
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0021 Oegoconia novimundi
New to Britain. Added in the 2016 update to the British checklist No information |
003 Oegoconia deauratella
(Scarce Obscure) 
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ID of Oegoconia species
All are black with a similar and similarly variable arrangement of white spots. Descriptions in MBGBI4.1 indicate that specimens with ws 11-13mm should be O.deauratella, but I have taken a specimen of O.quadripuncta with fw 5.5mm so do not believe this to be a reliable distinction. Sterling & Parsons give the following features as potentially helpful: O.deauratella is dark and has the narrowest pale median fascia; O.caradjai is paler with a narrower forewing and a broad median fascia and a partial subbasal fascia which is "rarely present in O.quadripuncta"
Male genitalia: Separation in key in MBGBI4.1 in male based on shape of saccus and strength of a sclerotised bar in the aedeagus; the drawings (p189) also illustrate differences in shape of the sacculus. Photographs and a description of the male genitalia is also presented in Stirling & Parsons (p389) and all 3 species are shown at Moth Dissection. The aedeagus of all 3 species has a group of spines attached to the vesica projecting from the apex. Diagnostic differences are tabulated below.
Female genitalia: Separation in the key in MBGBI4.1 is based on shape and sclerotisation of ductus bursae and shape of signum; but Sterling & Parsons comment: " there is variation within and between the females of these species and reliable separation on genitalia cannot always be achieved".
All are black with a similar and similarly variable arrangement of white spots. Descriptions in MBGBI4.1 indicate that specimens with ws 11-13mm should be O.deauratella, but I have taken a specimen of O.quadripuncta with fw 5.5mm so do not believe this to be a reliable distinction. Sterling & Parsons give the following features as potentially helpful: O.deauratella is dark and has the narrowest pale median fascia; O.caradjai is paler with a narrower forewing and a broad median fascia and a partial subbasal fascia which is "rarely present in O.quadripuncta"
Male genitalia: Separation in key in MBGBI4.1 in male based on shape of saccus and strength of a sclerotised bar in the aedeagus; the drawings (p189) also illustrate differences in shape of the sacculus. Photographs and a description of the male genitalia is also presented in Stirling & Parsons (p389) and all 3 species are shown at Moth Dissection. The aedeagus of all 3 species has a group of spines attached to the vesica projecting from the apex. Diagnostic differences are tabulated below.
Female genitalia: Separation in the key in MBGBI4.1 is based on shape and sclerotisation of ductus bursae and shape of signum; but Sterling & Parsons comment: " there is variation within and between the females of these species and reliable separation on genitalia cannot always be achieved".
Male Genitalia |
Aedeagus |
Saccus |
O.quadripuncta |
Long basal bar, no subapical spines |
Equilateral triangle |
O.caradjai |
Short basal bar, no subapical spines |
Shield-shaped with a small apical nipple |
O.deauratella |
Long basal bar, patch of subapical spines |
Narrow triangle with sides much longer than base |
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Symmoca
004 Symmoca signatella (Dockland Obscure)
As far as I am aware this is an accidental import, not established in GB - Doubtfully British
004 Symmoca signatella (Dockland Obscure)
As far as I am aware this is an accidental import, not established in GB - Doubtfully British
