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| Insects of Britain and Ireland: the families of Lepidoptera |
Adults relatively long-bodied; relatively slender-bodied (wingspan more than 15 times the thoracic width) to medium built (wingspan more than 8 and less than 15 times the thoracic width); with fully developed wings (mostly), or wingless, or with vestigial wings (e.g., the females of Diurnea species with reduced wings); wings in repose packed with the forewings directed backwards to cover hindwings and abdomen.
Head usually smooth. Antennae of medium length to very long; extending to about 0.6–1.5 times the length of the forewing. Antennae of males simple; non-ciliate, or simply-ciliate, or fasciculate-ciliate. The antennal scape with a pecten, or without a pecten; not forming an ‘eye cap’. Ocelli present (rarely), or absent. Chaetosemata absent (?). Maxillary palps well developed; 4 segmented; folded. Labial palps ascending (very short, appressed); 3 segmented. Proboscis fully developed, or absent; when well developed, scaly towards the base.
Wingspan 9–25(–27) mm; 11–22 times the thoracic width. Forewings narrow to broad; 2.1–3 times as long as wide. Tornus clearly defined to weakly defined. The outer margin convexly curved to more or less straight; forewings apically fairly blunt; forewings predominantly shining-metallic, or exhibiting shining-metallic markings, or neither shining-metallic nor with shining metallic markings. Hindwings approaching narrow-elongate and very long-fringed, or neither unusually narrow-elongate nor especially long-fringed; lanceolate to ovate; similar in breadth to the forewings. Hindwing width 0.9–1.2 times that of the forewings. Hindwings with a rounded apex. The fringe of the hindwings 0.25–1(–2) times the width of the membrane. The upper surfaces plain; with neither discal spot nor transverse lines; hindwings with a frenulum.
Neuration of forewings and hindwings dissimilar. Forewings 13 veined; with 2 anal veins. The anal veins of the forewings comprising 1b and 1c. Forewings exhibiting a tubular vein 1c (at least distally). Vein 1b of the forewings furcate proximally to obsoletely furcate. The transverse vein complete. Discal cell of the forewings without a tubular media (M) vein. Hindwings 9 veined, or 10 veined; with 2 anal veins, or with 3 anal veins. The anal veins of the hindwings comprising 1a, 1b and 1c (or occasionally 1b much reduced). Hindwings exhibiting vein 1a; exhibiting a tubular vein 1c. Vein 1b of the hindwings furcate proximally to simple. The transverse vein complete to incomplete. 6 veins arising from the hindwing cell. The cell-derived hindwing veins 2+3 proximally joined (connate or shortly stalked). Veins 6 and 7 of the hindwings parallel. Vein 8 of the hindwings completely independent of the cell (usually), or joined to the cell only by a bar; not approximating to vein 7.
Fore-legs with a tibial epiphysis. Tibiae of middle legs 2-spurred. Posterior tibiae 4-spurred; hairy.
Eggs, larvae and pupae. Eggs smooth or minutely pitted (?). Larval prolegs 10. Larvae concealed feeders (amongst spun leaves or seeds or in decayed wood, rarely mining leaves). The phytophagous forms associated with a wide variety of Dicot shrubs and herbs (with the large genus Depressaria specialising in Umbelliferae and Compositae), a few on mosses.
Pupae exposed, with no coccoon, or concealed; when exposed, suspended from the tail (cremaster), with no median silk girdle. Empty pupae not becoming protruded.
British representation. Genera 27 (1 adventive only); 82 species (4 adventive). Agonopterix heracleana, Batia lunaris (Lesser Tawny Crescent), Depressaria depressana (Blunt's Flat-body), Depressaria pastinacella (Parsnip Moth), Diurnea fagella (March Dagger), Esperia sulphurella (Yellow Underwinged Thick-horn), Endrosis sarcitrella (White-shouldered House-moth), Hofmannophila pseudospretella (Brown House-moth), etc.
Classification. Microlepidoptera. Suborder Ditrysia. Superfamily Gelechioidea.
Illustrations. • Carcina quercana (specimen): photo. OECOPHORIDAE. Carcina quercana. 27/7/55, Trentham, Staffs. R.G. Warren. • Agonopterix assimilella, A. nanatella, A. umbellana: Stainton 6, I (1861). Oecophoridae. 1, Agonopterix assimilella; larva (1a), and a sprig of broom with stems united by the web of a larva (1b). 2, Agonopterix nanatella: larva (2a) and a plant of Carlina vulgaris with mined leaves (2b). 3, Agonopterix umbellana: larva (3a), and a sprig of Ulex nanus with a larval web (3b). Stainton 6, I (1861). • Stainton 6, I (1861): original legend.. • Agonopterix arenella, A. kaekeritziana (as liturella), A. pallorella: Stainton 6, II (1861). OECOPHORIDAE. 1, Agonopterix arenella: larva (1a), and a leaf of Centaurea nigra folded by it. 2, Agonopterix kaekeritziana: larva (2a), and a shoot of Centaurea nigra folded by it (2b). 3, Agonopterix pallorella: larva (3a), and leaf of Centaurea scabiosa folded by it (3b). Stainton 6, II (1861). • Stainton 6, II (1861): original legend.. • Agonopterix liturosa (as hypericella), A. heracleana, A. nervosa: Stainton 6, III (1861). OECOPHORIDAE. 1, Agonopterix liturosa: larva (1a), and a shoot of Hypericum with apical leaves drawn together by it (1b). 2, Agonopterix heracleana; larva (2a), and seeds of Heracleum sphondyleum drawn together by it (2b). 3, Agonopterix nervosa; larva (3a), and an inflorescence of Oenanthe crocata with flowers drawn together by it (3b). Stainton 6, III (1861). • Stainton 6, III (1861): original legend.. • Depressaria chaerophyllae, D. pimpinellae, D. depressana (as depressella): Stainton 6, IV (1861). OECOPHORIDAE. 1, Depressaria chaerophylli; larva (1a), and a larval web in an inflorescence of Chaerophyllum temulum (1b). 2, Depressaria pimpinellae; larva (2a), and a larval web in an inflorescence of Pimpinella saxifraga (2b). 3, Depressaria depressana; larva (3a), and a carrot inflorescence inhabited by one (3b). Stainton 6, IV (1861). • Stainton 6, IV (1861): original legend.. • Agonopterix angelicella, A. hofmanii (mainland-European), Depressaria libanotidella: Stainton 6, V (1861). OECOPHORIDAE. 1, Agonopterix angelicella; larva (1a), and a leaf of Angelica sylvestris inhabited by one (1b). 2, Agonopterix hofmanni; larva (2a), and a leaf of Athamanta libanotis with a larval web (2b). 3, Depressaria libanotidella; larva (3a), and apical leaves of Athamanta libanotis drawn together by it (3b). Stainton 6, V (1861). • Stainton 6, V (1861): original legend.. • Agonopterix furvella, A. parilella (both mainland-European), A. cnicella: Stainton 6, VI (1861). OECOPHORIDAE. 1, Agonopterix furvella; larva (1a) and leaves of Dictamnus albus united by it (1b). 2, Agonopterix parilella; larva (2a), and a leaf of Peucedanum oreoselinum twisted by it (2b). 3, Agonopterix cnicella; larva (3a), and a shoot of Eryngium campestre attacked by it (3b). Stainton 6, VI (1861). • Stainton 6, VI (1861): original legend.. • Depressaria albipunctella, D. emeritella, D. olerella: Stainton 6, VII (1861). OECOPHORIDAE. 1, Depressaria albipunctella; larva (1a), and a leaf of Anthriscus sylvestris folded by it (1b). 2, Depressaria emeritella; larva (2a), and part of a Chrysanthemum vulgare leaf folded by it (2b). 3, Depressaria olerella; larva (3a), and leaves of Achillea millefolium drawn together by it (3b). Stainton 6, VII (1861). • Stainton 6, VII (1861): original legend.. • Depressaria heydenii, Agonopterix alstoemeriana, A. heracleana (as applana): Stainton 6, VIII (1861). OECOPHORIDAE. 1, Depressaria heydenii; larva (1a), and a larval web in an umbel of Heracleum sphondylium ssp. austriacum (1b). 2, Agonopterix alstroemeriana; larva (2a), and leaf tips of Conium maculatum folded by it (2b). 3, Agonopterix heracleana; larva (3a), and a leaf tip of Anthriscus sylvestris folded by it (3b). Stainton 6, VIII (1861). • Stainton 6, VIII (1861): original legend.. • Carcina quercana, Luqetia lobella and Exaeretia allisella: Stainton 13, VII (1873). OECOPHORIDAE. 1, Carcina quercana. Larva (1a), and a leaf of Sorbus torminalis with its web (1b). 2, Luquetia lobella. Larva (2a), and a sloe leaf folded downwards by it (2b). 3, Exaeretia allisella. Larva (3a), and a sprig of Artemisia vulgaris with frass ejected by it (3b). Stainton 13, VII (1873). • Stainton 13, VII (1873): original legend.. • Stathmopoda pedella and (mainland-European) Palumbina guerinii: Stainton 12, 2 (1870). OECOPHORIDAE. 1, Stathmopoda pedella. Larva (1a), and fruits of alder attacked by it (1b, 1b*). 2, Palumbina guerinii. Larva (2a), and pod-like galls formed by aphids on twigs of Pistacia terebinthus and inhabited by the larvae (2b). Stainton 12, 2 (1870). • Stainton 12, 2 (1870): original legend.. • Agonopterix carduella, Agonopterix subpropinquella, Exaeretia (Depressaroides) culcitella: Stainton 12, 5 (1870). OECOPHORIDAE. 1, Agonopterix carduella. Larva (1a), and a mined leaf of Cirsium vulgare (1b). 2, Agonopterix sunpropinquella. Larva (2a), and a leaf of Cirsium vulgare gnawed beneath by it (2b). 3, Exaeretia (Depressaroides) culcitella. Larva (3a), and a leaf of Chrysanthemum corymbosum attacked by it (3b). Stainton 12, 5 (1870). • Stainton 12, 5 (1870): original legend.. • Depressaria artemisiae, D. absynthiella, Agonopterix putridella: Stainton 12, 6 (1870). OECOPHORIDAE. 1, Depressaria artemisiae. Larva (1a), and an apical shoot of Artemisia campestris inhabited by it (1b). 2, Depressaria absynthiella. Larva (2a), and shoots of Artemisia absinthium inhabited by larvae (2b, 2b*). 3, Agonopterix putridella. Larva (3a), and a piece of Peucedanum officinale leaf attacked by it (3b). Stainton 12, 6 (1870). • Stainton 12, 6 (1870): original legend.. • Agonopterix atomella, with (mainland-European) Agonopterix rutana and A. nodiflorella: Stainton 12, 7 (1870). OECOPHORIDAE. 1, Agonopterix rutana. Larva (1a), and a sprig of Ruta chalepensis attacked by it (1b). 2, Agonopterix nodiflorella. Mining larva (2a), and leaflets of Ferula ferulago mined by the young larva (2b); adult larva (2a*), and the web formed by it on a leaf of Ferula ferulago (2b*). 3, Agonopterix atomella. Larva (3a), and a sprig of Calycotome spinosa attacked by it (3b). Stainton 12, 7 (1870. • Stainton 12, 7 (1870): original legend.. • Depressaria ululana, D. (Horridopalpus) dictamnella, Agonopterix silerella (all mainland-European): Stainton 12, 8 (1870). OECOPHORIDAE. 1, Depressaria ululana. Larva (1a), and an umbel of Carum (Bunium) bulbocastanum with its webs (1b). 2, Agonopterix silerella. Larva (2a), and a leaf of Siler aquilegifolium attacked by it (2b). 3, Depressaria (Horridopalpus) dictamnella, with side view of palpus showing prolonged tuft (3*). Larva (3a), and a sprig of Dictamnus albus attacked by it (3b). Stainton 12, 8 (1870). • Stainton 12, 8 (1870): original legend.. • Stainton's representative 'Tineina'. Stainton's TINEINA (Oecophoridae italicised). 2, Ochsenheimeria birdella; 3, Tinea ganomella; 4, Eriocrania salopiella; 5, Nemophora metallica; 6, Swammerdamia pyrella; 7, Yponomeuta sedella; 8, Plutella xylostella; 9, Ypsolopha dentella; 10, Agonopterix alstroemeriana; 11, Pexicopia malvella; 12, Chrysoesthia drurella; 13, Ypsolopha parenthesella; 14, Schiffermuelleria grandis; 15, Scythris grandipennis; 16, Glyphipteryx equitella; 17, Heliozela resplendella; 18, Argyresthia bonnetella; 19, Caloptilia alchimiella; 20, Coleophora lineola; 21, Bedellia somnulentella; 22, Cosmopteryx lienigiella; 23, Mompha propinquella; 24, Elachista gangabella; 25, Elachista maculicerusella; 26, Emmetia marginea; 27, Phyllonorycter acerifoliella; 28, Phyllonorycter stettinensis; 29, Leucoptera malifoliella; 30, Ectoedemia sericopeza. From Stainton (1854, Plate IX). • Agonopterix, Carcina, Exaeretia, Luquetia, Semioscopis, Stathmopoda (Stainton). 1a-c, Luquetia lobella, fore- and hindwings, and head. 2a-c, Carcina quercana, fore- and hindwings, and head. 3a-c, Agonopterix heracliana, fore- and hindwings, and head. 10a-c, Semioscopis steinkellneriana, fore- and hind-wings, head and palp. 10'c, head of Semioscopis avellanella. 11c and 11d, head and part of antenna of Exaeretia allisella. 13a-c, Stathmopoda pedella (Stathmopodidae: see separate family for more detail of the antenna), fore- and hindwings, and head. From Stainton (1854, Plates III, IV and VII). • Agonopterix, Alabonia, Amphibastis, Esperia, Hofmannophila, Hypercallia, Pleurota (Stainton).. 2a-c, Pleurota bicostella, fore- and hindwings, and head. 3a-c, Alabonia geoffrella, fore- and hindwings, and head. 4a-c, Hypercallia citrinalis, fore- and hindwings, and head. 5a-c, Esperia sulphurella, fore- and hindwings, and head. 6a-c, Hofmannophila pseudospretella, fore- and hindwings, and head. 9''a-9''c, Amphisbatis incongruella, fore- and hindwings, and head. 12a-b, Agonopterix angelicella, fore- and hindwings. From Stainton (1854, Plates V and VI). • Anarsia spartiella (Wanstead Grey): B. Ent. 655. • Anarsia spartiella: B. Ent. 655, legend+text. • Anarsia spartiella: B. Ent. 655, text cont.. • Batia lunaris (Lesser Tawny Crescent: B. Ent. 543). • Batia lunaris (detail, dissections: B. Ent. 543). • Batia lunaris: B. Ent. 543, legend+text. • Batia lunaris: B. Ent. 543, text cont.. • Diurnea fagella (March Dagger, light and dark forms: photos). Diurnea fagella (March Dagger). 4 Males and 2 females, exemplifying specimens collected in the same year from one locality. About half were dusky or clearly melanic, including females with their vestigial wings.
Ballington Wood, Leek, Staffs., March 1956. From Watson's collection. • Diurnea lipsiella (November Dagger: formerly D. phryganella): B. Ent. 743. • Diurnea lipsiella: B. Ent. 743, legend+text. • Diurnea lipsiella: B. Ent. 743, text cont.. • Esperia sulphurella (Yellow Underwinged Thick-horn: B. Ent. 408). • Esperia sulphurella: B. Ent. 408, legend+text. • Esperia sulphurella: B. Ent. 408, text, cont.. • Depressaria depressana (Blunt's Flat-body: B. Ent. 221). • Depressaria depressana: B. Ent. 221, legend+text. • Depressaria depressana: B. Ent. 221, text cont.. • Hypercallia citrinalis: Stephens IV, 1834. • 6 genera of Oecophoridae: Le Cerf & Herbulot. • 5 genera of Oecophoridae: Kirby 55. 13, Diurnea fagella (March Dagger); 27, Carcina quercana; 28, Agonopteryx heracleana; 29, Alabonia geoffrella; 30, Esperia sulphurella. • Larvae of 'Tineina' (Stainton). 1, OECOPHORIDAE: Diurnea fagella larva, and (1a) shown between united birch leaves. 2, PSYCHIDIDAE: Taleporia(?) larva, showing cases attached to lichen (2a), and a single case enlarged. 3, YPONOMEUTIDAE: Ochsenheimeria taurella, and (3a) a section of grass stem showing the larva in situ. 4, TINEIDAE: Tineola bisselliella, with a gallery formed in feathers (4a); 4b, a case of Tinea pellionella on a feather. 5, INCURVARIIDAE: Incurvaria praelatella, with a partially devoured wild strawberry leaf (5a), and a case from the underside. 6, Incurvaria pectinea, and (6a) the larva in its case feeding on a fallen oak leaf. 7, Lampronia capitella, with (7a) a currant shoot withering from the effects of the larva feeding in the stem. 8, YPONOMEUTIDAE: Swammerdamia pyrella, with (8a) the larva in its web between united cherry leaves. 9, Yponomeutidae-Plutellinae: Plutella porrectella, and (9a) feeding on a Hesperis leaf. 10, GLYPHIPTERIGIDAE: Orthotelia sparganella, with (10a) an eaten stem of Sparganium. 11. OECOPHORIDAE: Depressaria sp., with (11a) a leaf of Centaurea nigra distorted by its attentions. 12, GELECHIIDAE: Anacampsis temerella, with (12a) a sallow leaf tenanted by it. 13, Metzneria aestivella, with (13a) a sectioned fruiting head of Carlina showing the feeding larva in situ. 14, OECOPHORIDAE: Crassa unitella, and (14a) a piece of decayed wood burrowed by the larvae. 15, GLYPHIPTERIGIDAE: Glyphipteryx equitella, with (15a) shoots of Sedum acre showing the middle one bleached by excavations of the larva. 16, YPONOMEUTIDAE: Argyresthia bonnetella, with (16a) hawthorn shoots eaten by the larva. 17, GRACILLARIIDAE: Caloptilia alchimiella, with (17a) an oak lead exhibiting a cone formed by the larva. 18, OECOPHORIDAE: Agonopterix angelicella, with (18a) its cone on a hawthorn leaf. 19, COLEOPHORIDAE: Coleophora follicularis, with (19a) a mined leaf of Eupatorium, and (19b) the case enlarged. 20, LYONETIIDAE: Bedellia somnulentella, with (20a) a mined Convolvulus arvensis leaf. 21, EPERMENIIDAE: Epermenia chaerophyllellus, with (21a) a portion of Anthriscus sylvestris leaf eaten half through by it. 22, MOMPHIDAE: Chrysoclista linneella, with (22a) a piece of inner bark of lime burrowed by it. 23, ELACHISTIDAE: Elachista maculicerusella. with (23a) a mined Phragmites leaf blade. 24, TISCHERIIDAE: Emmetia marginea, and (24a) a mined bramble leaf. 25, GRACILLARIIDAE: Phyllonorycter quinnata, with (25a) a mined Carpinus leaf. 26, LYONETIIDAE: Leucoptera laburnella, with (26a) a mined Laburnum leaf. 27, Bucculatrix bechsteinella (Bucculatricidae), and a hawthorn leaf eaten half through. 28, NEPTICULIDAE: Nepticula sp., with (28a) a mined Potentilla leaf. From Stainton (1854, Plate X). • Agonopteryx liturella: neuration. • Hofmannophila, Pleurota, Agonopteryx: neuration.
We advise against extracting comparative information from the descriptions. This is much more easily achieved using the DELTA data files or the interactive key, which allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting or lacking specified attributes, and distributions of character states within any set of taxa. See also Guidelines for using data taken from Web publications.
Cite this publication as: ‘Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M.J. 2003 onwards. Insects of Britain and Ireland: the families of Lepidoptera. Version: 14th April 2022. delta-intkey.com’.
