Friday, 28 May 2021

Struggling with these two...

 
I suspect this may be a male Elachista canapennella, but FL seems wrong at 6-7 mm



 My initial thought on tis was Prays ruficeps, because of the orange head but I'm pretty sure it isn't. FL ~5 mm.

Any suggestions welcome!!

Thanks

Phil T

2 comments:

  1. Hi Phil,
    The first is a Scrobipalpa and probably the rather anonymous-looking acuminatella but it could do with dissection if that's a first for your site. The second is a Monopis and the usual way of separating them is the presence or otherwise of an obvious white tornal spot (although that can sometimes be a bit subjective!). On balance I'd say your moth is likely to be laevigella.

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  2. Thanks Dave,
    Both new for me, so I'll save the Scrobipalpa for dissection as you suggest. Now I know what to look for, a closer look suggests, as you say, that the second is M laevigella rather than weaverella.
    Phil

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