This key is largely based on the forewing strigulae/fasciae. These are coded C for costal, D for dorsal and numbered from base to apex - C1 indicates the most basal costal strigula, 4C3D indicates that there 4 costal and 3 dorsal strigulae. Where a pair of strigulae unite to form a complete transverse fascia this is indicated by eg C1D1. Such a fascia may be fairly straight or angled to various degrees.
The key divides the genus into 4 groups:
The key divides the genus into 4 groups:
Forewing with sufficient white or light grey colour that the strigulae appear as dark markings on a pale background |
A |
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Forewing markings appear white on a coloured background |
C1D1 forming a complete transverse fascia |
B |
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C1D1 not forming a complete transverse fascia |
thorax with a lighter median line |
C |
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thorax without a lighter median line |
D |
Group A. Forewing with sufficient white or light grey that the strigulae appear as dark markings on a pale background.
Broad tan fascia in the basal half of forewing, other markings crowded at apex |
P.roboris |
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Basal streak present, black edged |
P.heegeriella |
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White parts of fw sprinkled with dark scales |
P.comparella, P.sagitella |
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C1D1 meet to form an acute angled fascia |
C1D1 broad enough that anterior and posterior dark edges are distinct |
P.geniculella |
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C1D1 very narrow represented by just the dark edge |
3C |
P.harrisella |
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4C |
P.tenerella |
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C1D1 meet to form an obtuse angled fascia* |
5C3D |
P.kuhlweiniella |
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C2D2 meet at ~90° - connected to C3D3 which is much less distinct |
P.acerifoliella, P.joannisi |
*All remaining species in Group A have some dark markings anterior to the first distinct fascia, these are ignored.
Group B. Forewing markings appear white on a coloured background, C1D1 forming a complete transverse fascia.
1. C2D2 forming a complete transverse fascia (basal streak absent, short or indistinct in all except P.emberizaepennella)
Thorax metallic silvery or leaden |
P.schreberella |
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Black proximal border to C1D1 & C2D2 broader than white fascia |
P.trifasciella |
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No dark line at base of apical cilia |
Basal streak almost reaching C1D1, narrow dark ant. edges to white markings |
P.emberizaepenella |
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Basal streak short/indistinct, broad dark ant. edges to white markings |
Apical 8-12 antennal segments white |
P.tristrigella |
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Antenna banded fuscous to apex |
P.scabiosella |
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C3D3 (almost) meet to form an angled fascia |
4(5)C4D (D4 beyond tornus) |
P.nicellii |
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4C3D (thorax metallic golden) |
P.froelichii |
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C3 & D3 separate |
Black anterior borders of fasciae distinct against orange ground colour |
vertex orange-brown |
P.klemannella |
Black ant. borders of fasciae indistinct against dark brown ground colour |
vertex blackish |
P.stettinensis |
2. C2D2 not forming a complete transverse fascia, basal streak distinct, dorsal patch usually present
C1D1 forming an acutely angled fascia |
Value |
P.scopariella P.leucographella |
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3C2(3)D? ws<6.5mm |
P.anderidae |
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4C3D |
white markings edged black on ant and post edges |
P.nigrescentella |
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white markings edged black on ant edges only |
post. edge of tegulae white, thorax usually with fine white central line |
P.salicicolella (^) |
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thorax with strong median white line |
P.cavella |
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thorax with white anterior edge and sides but no white median line |
P.hilarella |
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no white in thorax |
P.ulmifoliella |
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4C4D |
P.insignitella |
Group C. Forewing markings appear white on a coloured background, C1D1 not forming a complete transverse fascia,
thorax with lighter median line
thorax with lighter median line
Thoracic median line yellow/gold |
(white in all other species) |
P.viminiella |
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1C1D |
P.corylifoliella |
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4C2D |
(appears 4C3D in remaining species) |
P.distentella |
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Apex of C1 clearly distal to apex of D1* |
base of wing with costal, central and dorsal white streaks |
P.quinqueguttella |
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Strigulae and basal streak without black edging |
angle between C1&D1 acute |
P.scopariella |
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angle between C1&D1 obtuse |
ws4.5-6.0 (Cornwall only, pale areas ochreus tinged) |
P.staintonella |
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ws6-7 |
P.ulicicolella |
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Angle between anterior borders of C1 & D1 90 deg or more |
basal streak with black edging |
P.lantanella P.anderidae |
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basal streak without black edging |
P.salicicolella (^) |
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Angle between anterior borders of C1 and D1 acute. |
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* MBGBI2 states that P.quinqueguttella is 5C3D and that D1 ends between C1 and C2, the plate (13:11) draws 4C3D with apex of C1distal to D1(less clearly so on the right wing) - this pattern, 4C3D, is also seen in images at UKMoths.
§ These two cannot be separated without genital examination.
Males: P.cerasicolella - valva with longer subapical spine and many stiff marginal bristles.
P.spinicolella - valva with short subapical spine and few weak marginal bristles
§ These two cannot be separated without genital examination.
Males: P.cerasicolella - valva with longer subapical spine and many stiff marginal bristles.
P.spinicolella - valva with short subapical spine and few weak marginal bristles
Group D. Forewing markings appear white on a coloured background, C1D1 not forming a complete transverse fascia,
thorax without lighter median line
thorax without lighter median line
Thorax and entire basal part of wing white |
P.tenerella |
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No basal streak |
P.muelleriella |
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Long basal streak- reaching past apex of C1 |
P.quercifoliella |
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Short basal streak - not reaching dorsal origin of D1 |
P.lautella |
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C2D2 and C3D3 forming complete transverse fasciae |
P.platani |
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Apex of C1 clearly distal to apex of D1 |
basal streak broad, fw ground colour dark brown |
P.rajella |
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basal streak narrow |
P.strigulatella |
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Apex of C1 opposite, or proximal to apex of D1 |
Basal streak not edged in black, strigulae not edged in black |
C1-D1angle acute |
P.scopariella |
C1-D1 angle 90deg, strong dorsal patch |
P.viminetorum** |
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C1-D1 angle obtuse ws4.5-6.0 |
P.staintonella |
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C1-D1 angle obtuse ws6.0-7.0 |
P.ulicicolella |
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Basal streak weakly edged black on costal side only |
strigulae strongly edged black |
P.junoniella |
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strigulae weakly edged black |
P.leucographella |
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Basal streak and strigulae edged black |
D1 & D2 much narrower than the space between them |
P.messaniella |
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D1&D2 nearly as broad as the space between them; apical streak short (reaching D3) |
P.lantanella |
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D1&D2 nearly as broad as the space between them; apical streak extensive |
P.hostis, P.sorbi, P.oxyacanthae, P.blancardella, P.mespilella §§ |
** antenna with subterminal 9-10 segments white, terminal segment black
§§ P.hostis and P.sorbi have ws >8mm; P.oxyacanthae, P.blancardella and P.mespilella ws <=8mm but these 5 best distinguished by genital examination.
In males this depends on identifying the costae of the valvae. These are asymmetric, the right being longer than the left, and have spines at their apex. In considering relative lengths of the costa measurements are taken from drawings in MBGBI2 and are measured from base of costa to base of its spine.
P.sorbi has the R costa only slightly longer than the L (1.1-1.2x).
P.oxyacanthae has the R costa much longer than the L (2.5x) and a strongly hooked spine.
P.hostis has the R costa much longer than the L (2x) and a short curved/hooked spine (spine ~1/4 length of costa).
P.mespilella has a stout R costa with a long apical spine (spine ~1/2 length of costa) and a very short L costa with a long spine (spine 1.5x length of costa).
P.blancardella has a narrow R costa with a long apical spine (spine 2/5 length of costa) and a very short L costa with a long spine (spine 2x length of costa).
§§ P.hostis and P.sorbi have ws >8mm; P.oxyacanthae, P.blancardella and P.mespilella ws <=8mm but these 5 best distinguished by genital examination.
In males this depends on identifying the costae of the valvae. These are asymmetric, the right being longer than the left, and have spines at their apex. In considering relative lengths of the costa measurements are taken from drawings in MBGBI2 and are measured from base of costa to base of its spine.
P.sorbi has the R costa only slightly longer than the L (1.1-1.2x).
P.oxyacanthae has the R costa much longer than the L (2.5x) and a strongly hooked spine.
P.hostis has the R costa much longer than the L (2x) and a short curved/hooked spine (spine ~1/4 length of costa).
P.mespilella has a stout R costa with a long apical spine (spine ~1/2 length of costa) and a very short L costa with a long spine (spine 1.5x length of costa).
P.blancardella has a narrow R costa with a long apical spine (spine 2/5 length of costa) and a very short L costa with a long spine (spine 2x length of costa).
P.oxyacanthae
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P.mespilella
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P.blancardella
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