Group A
A1: Species with a pale tornal spot but no pale forewing fascia
S.catharticella
A2: Species with a pale metallic postmedian fascia and a pale gold metallic scale patch at the extreme apex of the forewing
S.auromarginella
A3: Species with a whitish (dull) basal spot or patch (usually with postmedian pale costal and tornal spots)
S.trimaculella assimilella basiguttella
A4: Species with a pale postmedian forewing fascia AND a (shiny metallic) antemedian fascia
S.pretiosa aeneofasciella
A1: Species with a pale tornal spot but no pale forewing fascia
S.catharticella
A2: Species with a pale metallic postmedian fascia and a pale gold metallic scale patch at the extreme apex of the forewing
S.auromarginella
A3: Species with a whitish (dull) basal spot or patch (usually with postmedian pale costal and tornal spots)
S.trimaculella assimilella basiguttella
A4: Species with a pale postmedian forewing fascia AND a (shiny metallic) antemedian fascia
S.pretiosa aeneofasciella
A1: S.catharticella
Confirmatory features: head ochreous to ferruginous; collar whitish; forewing coarsely scaled dark grey; cilia contrastingly pale grey
Confirmatory features: head ochreous to ferruginous; collar whitish; forewing coarsely scaled dark grey; cilia contrastingly pale grey
A2: S.auromarginella
Confirmatory features: head varies from yellowish-orange to black; collar dark brown.
Confirmatory features: head varies from yellowish-orange to black; collar dark brown.
A3: these 3 species are separable on features of the basal spot
A3: a) basal spot elongate and extending from base to 2/5 (distinctly larger than the costal and tornal pale spots) > S.trimaculella
A3: b) basal spot rounded at 1/3 (similar size to costal and tornal pale spots) > S.assimilella
A3: c) basal spot small at extreme base (other markings extremely variable) > S.basiguttella
A3: a) basal spot elongate and extending from base to 2/5 (distinctly larger than the costal and tornal pale spots) > S.trimaculella
A3: b) basal spot rounded at 1/3 (similar size to costal and tornal pale spots) > S.assimilella
A3: c) basal spot small at extreme base (other markings extremely variable) > S.basiguttella
A3: a) S.trimaculella
Confirmatory features: ♂ has an orange abdomen (unique); ♂head ochreous to pale brown, ♀head pale grey-brown; collar yellowish white; cilia pale yellow at termen, grey at tornus
Confirmatory features: ♂ has an orange abdomen (unique); ♂head ochreous to pale brown, ♀head pale grey-brown; collar yellowish white; cilia pale yellow at termen, grey at tornus
A3: b) S.assimilella
Confirmatory features: head ochreous, collar yellowish white; cilia pale yellow at termen, grey at tornus
Confirmatory features: head ochreous, collar yellowish white; cilia pale yellow at termen, grey at tornus
A3: c) S.basiguttella
Confirmatory features: head dark; forewing markings other than the basal spot are very variable but commonly the median/postmedian section is paler to whitish without forming a discrete fascia or spots. When the forewing lacks markings it could be confused with S.samiatella or ♀S.atricapitella and will require gen. det. |
A4: these 2 species are reliably separated on head colour
A4: a) Head ochreous to orange > S.pretiosa
A4: b) Head black > S.aeneofasciella
A4: a) Head ochreous to orange > S.pretiosa
A4: b) Head black > S.aeneofasciella
A4: a) S.pretiosa
Confirmatory features: collar dark copper; postmedian facia much more distinct than antemedian
Confirmatory features: collar dark copper; postmedian facia much more distinct than antemedian
A4: b) S.aeneofasciella
Confirmatory features: collar black; both fascia ill-defined
Confirmatory features: collar black; both fascia ill-defined