Identification of Tinea & Niditinea species:
T.columbariella (ws8-16mm) has an unmarked pale greyish-brown forewing.
T.semifulvella is larger (ws14-22mm), has a ferruginous apical portion of the forewing and a distinctive black tornal spot.
T.trinotella (ws11-17mm) has a bright yellow head and 3 distinct forewing spots the plical spot (mid-dorsal) being larger than the 2 discal spots.
T.pallescentella may be larger but size overlaps (ws12-25mm), usually has more extensive dark markings than other species.
This leaves 3 species with a poorly marked fuscous ochreous forewing with at least the 2nd (apical) discal stigma defined and head dull ferruginous.
These require genital dissection for confirmed ID (figured on pp 200-201 of MBGBI2).
T.pellioinella (ws9-16mm) is the commonest British Clothes Moth
T.dubiella (ws9-15mm) has a darker grey hindwing than the other 2 species in this group and the forewing is sprinkled with ochreous scales.
T.flavescentella (ws8-17mm) is local, uncommon and declining, it tends to have a paler whitish-ochreous forewing than the other 2 species in this group.
Niditinea species are keyed (MBGBI2) as separable from Tinea species by having strong dark irroration at least in the apical area of the forewing and a strongly chequered costal fringe - however I have not been convinced by either of these features in images available on-line.
Niditinea fuscella looks very similar to the Tinea pellionella group and I suspect is best separated by genital examination (N.striolella figured by Moth Dissection).
T.columbariella (ws8-16mm) has an unmarked pale greyish-brown forewing.
T.semifulvella is larger (ws14-22mm), has a ferruginous apical portion of the forewing and a distinctive black tornal spot.
T.trinotella (ws11-17mm) has a bright yellow head and 3 distinct forewing spots the plical spot (mid-dorsal) being larger than the 2 discal spots.
T.pallescentella may be larger but size overlaps (ws12-25mm), usually has more extensive dark markings than other species.
This leaves 3 species with a poorly marked fuscous ochreous forewing with at least the 2nd (apical) discal stigma defined and head dull ferruginous.
These require genital dissection for confirmed ID (figured on pp 200-201 of MBGBI2).
T.pellioinella (ws9-16mm) is the commonest British Clothes Moth
T.dubiella (ws9-15mm) has a darker grey hindwing than the other 2 species in this group and the forewing is sprinkled with ochreous scales.
T.flavescentella (ws8-17mm) is local, uncommon and declining, it tends to have a paler whitish-ochreous forewing than the other 2 species in this group.
Niditinea species are keyed (MBGBI2) as separable from Tinea species by having strong dark irroration at least in the apical area of the forewing and a strongly chequered costal fringe - however I have not been convinced by either of these features in images available on-line.
Niditinea fuscella looks very similar to the Tinea pellionella group and I suspect is best separated by genital examination (N.striolella figured by Moth Dissection).
