49.311 Dichrorampha aeratana (Dingy Daisy Moth)
ws: 12-16mm (BTM), fw 6-8mm (Sterling & Parsons); May-Jun; ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare); local throughout GB
Dichrorampha aeratana §1 male
ID: Median dorsal blotch obscured, ground colour brown. Requires genital determination. D.plumbana/sedatana/aeratana are very similar. D.sedetana/aeratana average larger (ws 12-16mm) than D.plumbana such that specimens with fw 7mm or more should not be D.plumbana. D.sedatana has the pale yellow irroration extending to the base of the wing whereas in D.plumbana/aeratana the basal third is largely devoid of yellow colour.
Male genitalia: Juxta lobes rounded and strongly scobinate; aedeagus with a subapical tooth.
Female genitalia: Sclerotised antrum simple extends to ½ length of A7 tapering to the right side anteriorly; sclerotised posterior margin of antrum extends further around the ostial margin on the left side.
See Dichrorampha for more information.
D.plumbana/sedatana/aeratana have well-developed juxta lobes and this readily distinguishes them from all other Dichrorampha species. In the past this distinction has been sufficient to place these three species in a separate genus.
The male genitalia are illustrated and described by P&M (unreliable*), BTM (not very reliable), MBGBI5.2 (useless), Sterling and Parsons (more helpful in 1st edition, not illustrated in 2nd edition) and are shown at Moth Dissection (reliable).
1. Aedeagus: D.plumbana - tapered without teeth; D.sedatana - 2 tiny dorsal subapical teeth; D.aeratana - 1 tiny dorsal subapical tooth
2. Juxta lobes: D.plumbana/sedatana - triangular and very weakly scobinate; D.aeratana - rounded and strongly scobinate
3. Emargination of ventral margin of valva: D.plumbana/sedatana - narrow; D.aeratana - broad
BTM also emphasises that D.plumbana has a narrower cucullus than in D.sedatana/aeratana and S&P mention that the cucullus is slightly smaller in D.plumbana. The images at Moth Dissection suggest that this difference is sufficiently indistinct that it would be unreliable - it is certainly not nearly as apparent as the illustrations in BTM (p304) would suggest.
(P&M differentiate a further species L.torrana and confusion reigns in any further attempt to differentiate the species from this source: P&Ms male L.torrana is D.plumbana, their female L.aeratana is D.plumbana, their female L.torrana is D.aeratana and their female L,plumbana is D.aeratana - which leaves their male L.plumbana as unmatched).
Comments on §1&§2. §1 has a single subapical tooth; §2 as 2 subapical teeth close together. Scobination of the annelus lobes was striking in both. Annelus lobes looked triangular in §1 until set flat. Slide prep illustrates near impossibility of demonstrating both the shape of the annelus lobes and the subapical tooth in a single image.
Male genitalia: Juxta lobes rounded and strongly scobinate; aedeagus with a subapical tooth.
Female genitalia: Sclerotised antrum simple extends to ½ length of A7 tapering to the right side anteriorly; sclerotised posterior margin of antrum extends further around the ostial margin on the left side.
See Dichrorampha for more information.
D.plumbana/sedatana/aeratana have well-developed juxta lobes and this readily distinguishes them from all other Dichrorampha species. In the past this distinction has been sufficient to place these three species in a separate genus.
The male genitalia are illustrated and described by P&M (unreliable*), BTM (not very reliable), MBGBI5.2 (useless), Sterling and Parsons (more helpful in 1st edition, not illustrated in 2nd edition) and are shown at Moth Dissection (reliable).
1. Aedeagus: D.plumbana - tapered without teeth; D.sedatana - 2 tiny dorsal subapical teeth; D.aeratana - 1 tiny dorsal subapical tooth
2. Juxta lobes: D.plumbana/sedatana - triangular and very weakly scobinate; D.aeratana - rounded and strongly scobinate
3. Emargination of ventral margin of valva: D.plumbana/sedatana - narrow; D.aeratana - broad
BTM also emphasises that D.plumbana has a narrower cucullus than in D.sedatana/aeratana and S&P mention that the cucullus is slightly smaller in D.plumbana. The images at Moth Dissection suggest that this difference is sufficiently indistinct that it would be unreliable - it is certainly not nearly as apparent as the illustrations in BTM (p304) would suggest.
(P&M differentiate a further species L.torrana and confusion reigns in any further attempt to differentiate the species from this source: P&Ms male L.torrana is D.plumbana, their female L.aeratana is D.plumbana, their female L.torrana is D.aeratana and their female L,plumbana is D.aeratana - which leaves their male L.plumbana as unmatched).
Comments on §1&§2. §1 has a single subapical tooth; §2 as 2 subapical teeth close together. Scobination of the annelus lobes was striking in both. Annelus lobes looked triangular in §1 until set flat. Slide prep illustrates near impossibility of demonstrating both the shape of the annelus lobes and the subapical tooth in a single image.
§1 Foulness, Essex; 29/05/2020; male; fw 6.4mm; valva 1.35mm; by sweeping ox-eye daisy
§2 Foulness, Essex; 29/05/2020; male; fw 6.0mm; valva 1.37mm; by sweeping ox-eye daisy
§3 Orlestone Forest, Kent; 18/05/2020; male; fw 6.7mm (gen. det.)
§4 Orlestone Forest, Kent; 17/06/2020; male; fw 6.0mm
§5 Ballindalloch, Moray; 27/06/2021; female; fw 6.6mm; to light
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Foulness, Essex; 29/05/2020; male; fw 6.0mm; valva 1.37mm; by sweeping ox-eye daisy
§3 Orlestone Forest, Kent; 18/05/2020; male; fw 6.7mm (gen. det.)
§4 Orlestone Forest, Kent; 17/06/2020; male; fw 6.0mm
§5 Ballindalloch, Moray; 27/06/2021; female; fw 6.6mm; to light
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 09/06/2020 (§1-2) | §3 added 16/01/2021 | §4 added 24/01/2021 | §5 added 30/08/2021 | Text amended 09/05/2026
