Found in my shed this afternoon in West Oxon. Caloptilia cuculipennella is all I can come up with. I assume dissection is the only option for ID ......?
Check with Martin but I'd be very happy to accept that as cuculipennella without the need for dissection. It is not at all a common species in Bucks so I suspect will be quite a nice find for Oxon too. The Field Guide mentions C.populetorum and P.leucapennella as possible confusion species (your specimen looks nothing like either of them) but I'd say that G.syringella is even more likely to be confused with it. However, the main distinguishing feature between that one and cuculipennella is that cuculipennella has hair tufts on the underside of its palps, clearly visible in your picture, and syringella doesn't.
Hello Nic,
ReplyDeleteCheck with Martin but I'd be very happy to accept that as cuculipennella without the need for dissection. It is not at all a common species in Bucks so I suspect will be quite a nice find for Oxon too. The Field Guide mentions C.populetorum and P.leucapennella as possible confusion species (your specimen looks nothing like either of them) but I'd say that G.syringella is even more likely to be confused with it. However, the main distinguishing feature between that one and cuculipennella is that cuculipennella has hair tufts on the underside of its palps, clearly visible in your picture, and syringella doesn't.
Thanks for the comprehensive reply as ever Dave. Martin has agreed with the ID so no need for dissection.
DeleteNic.