49.272 Eucosma tripoliana (Saltern Tortrix)
ws: 13-17mm; Jul-Aug; sea aster (Aster tripolium); local in saltmarsh in S&SE England and S.Wales
Synonym: Phaneta aemulana (Pierce & Metcalfe)
Synonym: Phaneta aemulana (Pierce & Metcalfe)
Eucosma tripoliana §2 male
ID: Similar to E.rubescana which also occurs in saltmarsh habitat. The two species can be fairly reliably distinguished on size, E.tripoliana being smaller (ws 13-17mm), but there is some overlap. E.tripoliana is better marked - perhaps best seen in the costal strigulae towards the apex; which in E.rubescana are grey, faint and short with little if any development of plumbeous striae and in E.tripoliana yellow-brown with some fuscous overlay, distinct, longer and with distinct development of plumbeous striae.
Male genitalia: characterised by a distinctly angular sacculus (a feature shared with E.campoliliana). E.rubescana is not treated by Pierce & Metcalfe and there is no image at dissection group. I only have primitive images for E.rubescana, which are not presented here, but this also seems to have an angular sacculus. It may be that the cucllus is shorter than in E.tripoliana, but I await further specimens for confirmation of this.
Male genitalia: characterised by a distinctly angular sacculus (a feature shared with E.campoliliana). E.rubescana is not treated by Pierce & Metcalfe and there is no image at dissection group. I only have primitive images for E.rubescana, which are not presented here, but this also seems to have an angular sacculus. It may be that the cucllus is shorter than in E.tripoliana, but I await further specimens for confirmation of this.
§1 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 03/08/2011; male; fw 8.3mm
§2 Foulness, Essex; 14/08/2011; male
§3 Foulness, Essex; 14/08/2011; male; fw 7.5mm
§4 Foulness, Essex; 13/08/2016; male; fw 6.8mm
§5 Foulness, Essex; 03/08/2018; male; fw 6.7mm
§6 Foulness, Essex; 12/08/2023; male; fw 6.9mm
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Foulness, Essex; 14/08/2011; male
§3 Foulness, Essex; 14/08/2011; male; fw 7.5mm
§4 Foulness, Essex; 13/08/2016; male; fw 6.8mm
§5 Foulness, Essex; 03/08/2018; male; fw 6.7mm
§6 Foulness, Essex; 12/08/2023; male; fw 6.9mm
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 26/01/2013 (§1-3) | §4 added 07/05/2017 | §5 added 18/02/2019 | §6 added 21/12/2023
