A Biodiversity Information System for Cheshire, Halton, Warrington & Wirral

It has been a decent enough start for me. Been trapping on warmish nights and caught the expected species: March Moths, Hebrew Characters, Small & Common Quakers, Clouded Drabs, and just singles of Grey Shoulder-knot, Satellite, Double-striped Pug and Yellow Horned.

Micros represented by a couple of Beautiful Plumes and this Caloptilia sp. I think it’s probably C. betulicola. Can this be sorted by a photo or is gen. det. necessary?

Cheers, John

Hi John
Most likely Caloptilia betulicola with the pale trochanter but the NMRS guidelines do suggest that it should be dissected to be sure.
Regards
Steve

Thanks Steve,

I still have the moth. I would be grateful if you could confirm the ID by dissection should you have a spare moment.

Cheers, John

Hi John

I'll have a go at dissecting it for you. Females are easy enough, although I have struggled with males of these two in the past so no guarantee of success.

Regards
Steve

Thanks Steve,

You told me last year that C. betulicola has a white trochanter. In these better photos it is clearly white. Is this good enough for ID or is a dissection still required?

Cheers, John

Hi John
Those with a white trochanter do tend to be Caloptilia betulicola but not always. I have heard of at least one dissected specimen of C.elongella which also had a white trochanter, so I would only record light trapped specimens to species having dissected them.
Regards
Steve