49.275 Eucosma conterminana (Lettuce Tortrix)
ws: 15-19mm; Jul-Aug; prickly/great lettuce (Lactuca serriola/vireola) and cultivated lettuce; NS-B dry open areas in S&SE.England
Synonym: Phaneta conterminana (Pierce & Metcalfe)
Synonym: Phaneta conterminana (Pierce & Metcalfe)
Eucosma conterminana §1 male
ID: BTM characterises this species by its pale yellowish-brown general colour and conspicuous medio-dorsal blotch of light ground colour and suggests there is only minor variation in colour. Specimen §1 seems darker than this description with a somewhat obscured medio-dorsal blotch. A search of web images labelled as this species suggests that this darker form occurs at least as frequently as the yellow-brown form described. Perhaps the colouration appears darker with wear.
Male genitalia: distinguished from its congeners by a prominent hump halfway along the dorsal margin of the valva.
Male genitalia: distinguished from its congeners by a prominent hump halfway along the dorsal margin of the valva.
Dissection
Male genitalia
Female genitalia
§1 Foulness, Essex; 24/07/2011; male; fw 8.0mm
§2 Foulness, Essex; 13/07/2013; female; fw 8.7mm
§3 Foulness, Essex; 26/07/2014; female; fw 8.0mm
§4 Foulness, Essex; 13/08/2016; male; fw 8.4mm
§5 Foulness, Essex; 11/06/2016; female; fw 8.6mm (note early date)
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Foulness, Essex; 13/07/2013; female; fw 8.7mm
§3 Foulness, Essex; 26/07/2014; female; fw 8.0mm
§4 Foulness, Essex; 13/08/2016; male; fw 8.4mm
§5 Foulness, Essex; 11/06/2016; female; fw 8.6mm (note early date)
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 26/01/2013 (§1) | §2 added 20/12/2013 | §3 added August 2014 | §4 added 07/05/2017 | §5 added 10/05/2017
