3. NEPTICULIDAE

Forewing uniformly coloured or irrorate; distal part sometimes well-defined purplish.

To this alternative belong two species with pale terminal cilia contrasting with dark distal part of forewing (see couplets 25 and 31).

7.0-10.5mm. July. Forewing blackish grey with whitish scales and often with whitish tornal spot.

6.5-8.5mm. August and September. Forewing blackish grey with whitish scales and often with whitish tornal spot.

August and September. Frons and collar yellowish white to orange. Forewing greyish brown, irrorate, irroration caused by three types of scales: white with brown tips, white with yellowish tips an unicolorous white. Overlap in wingspan between T. squamatella and T. immundella makes it often necessary to inspect the male genitalia. This can be done without dissection by brushing away some hair-scales. The characteristic narrow valval tips, conspicuously curved inwards differ from those of T. immundella which are hardly curved.

If irroration occurs it is caused by only one type of scales (dark tipped) or two types (dark tipped and white or transparent and white). Specimens of Stigmella lapponica and S. confusella without pale fascia key out here (see couplet 95)

6.0-8.4mm. May to August. Frons from yellowish white to dark ferruginous, collar paler. Forewing pale ochreous to greyish brown; terminal cilia with irregular line. See couplet 29.

May (in Britain). Forewing dark grey, irrorated by dark tipped scales only. Frons orange, collar more yellowish; eyecap shining silvery white. See couplet 29.

See couplet 55.

See couplet 56.

4.2-5.8mm. Mid May to mid August. Forewing dark greyish brown, slightly irrorated with dark tipped scales only. Collar coloured as frons; eyecap white.

Late May to August (in Britain). Rare dark form, f. fuliginella Vári, described from The Netherlands. See couplet 59.

Here dark-headed specimens of Stigmella aurella without fascia (a very rare form) key out.

4.5-6.0mm. May to early October. This is the common form with black vertex. Scape white. See couplets 27 and 43.

4.0-6.0mm. May to August. Vertex dark brown to deep black. Scape yellowish white.See couplet 16.

See couplets 19 and 26.

4.0-6.0mm. May to August. Forewing dark bronzy brown with strong metallic gloss, without cilia along basal half of dorsum. Vertex varying from dark brown to black. Eyecap and scape white. See couplet 13.

5.0-7.0mm. May to September. Vertex dark brown to black, sometimes ochreous (see couplet 45); eyecap white.

4.5-6.0mm. May and June, in Britain also in July and August. Vertex always black or blackish. This is the rare form without pale markings (see also couplet 51).

May and June, also in August. This is the dark-headed, less common form (f. fletcheri Tutt). Hindwing of male with some blackish scales in basal third. See also couplet 46.

May, June and August (in Britain). Form with dark brown frons and black vertex predominant. See couplets 15 and 26.

Dark-headed form. See couplet 39.

Form with frons and vertex blackish. See couplets 34, 42 and 48.

This is the form without pale metallic fascia, not yet recorded for The Netherlands. See couplet 130.

4.2-5.0mm. Late May, June and August (in England). Forewing shining dark golden brown with paler golden brown middle part and more purplish distally. Hindwing in male with blackish brown androconial hair-scales at dorsum, extending over fringe to quarter length of cilia. Frons and vertex ferruginous.

The reflections may be faint or restricted to distal part of wing.

4.2-6.2mm. May to August. Forewing with basal three-quarters bronzy brown, distal quarter brownish with variable purplish lustre; specimens occur with nearly unicolorous brownish forewings and also specimens with distal quarter of wing distinctly darker than rest of wing, as well as specimens with an ill-defined greyish fascia. See couplet 37 and 94.

See couplets 15 and 19.

4.5-6.0mm. May to October. Forewing dark bronzy brown with metallic lustre, distal area slightly darker, usually with faint violet gloss. See couplets 13 and 43.

5.0-7.0mm. May to September. Forewing dark bronzy brown with metallic lustre, distal area slightly darker, usually with faint purple gloss. Females of S. ruficapitella and S. roborella can only reliably be separated by dissection; the latter species is easily recognized by the convolution of the ductus bursae. See couplet 43.

See couplet 6.

See couplet 7.

See couplet 47.

4.8-6.6mm. May, June and August. Forewing with distal area from dark greyish brown to blackish brown, rest of wing paler or darker brown. Rare form without pale fascia (see also couplet 35). For forms with fascia see couplets 92 and 98.

Forewing greyish brown. See couplet 40.

The reflections may be faint.

4.0-5.2mm. May and June. Forewing with terminal cilia concolorous with wing.

See couplets 21, 42 and 48.

4.6-5.0mm. June, July and September. See couplet 48.

Rare form without pale fascia. See couplets 31, 92 and 98.

See couplets 25 and 94.

May and June. Frons and vertex orange to ferruginous. Forewing unicolorous bronzy brown with faint metallic gloss.

4.2-4.9mm. Late May and June (in Britain). Pale-headed form, frons ochreous or brown. Forewing with terminal cilia brownish, silvery grey at tips. Up to the present no certain records are known from The Netherlands. See couplet 20.

5.0-6.0mm. May and August. Frons and vertex ochreous yellow. See couplet 31.

5.0-5,7mm. June and probably also later in the year. Frons and vertex ferruginous ochreous. S. incognitella and S. perpygmaeella are hardly separable on external characters. The male genitalia can be inspected without dissection by brushing some hair scales. In S. incognitella the roughly square uncus protrudes above the valvae, in S. perpygmaeella the uncus is slightly shorter than the valvae. In female dissection is necessary; S. incognitella is easily recognized by the presence of dense pectination on the dusctus bursae, absent in S. perpygmaeella.

May and August (in England). Frons and vertex ferruginous; probably the most common form. See also couplets 21, 34 and 48.

See couplets 13 and 27.

See couplet 27.

See couplet 15.

See couplet 17.

Forewing shining golden or greenish bronze, distal quarter deep purple, the transition in colour abrupt and well-defined. This is the common pale-headed form. See couplet 18.

3.9-4.6mm. May, June, in Britain also in August. Forewing with traces of purplish gloss in apical area, terminal cilia concolorous with wing, not paler at tips. Frons ochreous yellow to brown. See couplet 30.

Forewing with faint purplish tinge in apical area. See couplets 21, 34 and 42.

Forewing with purplish reflections more distinct in distal third, but the transition in colour is ill-defined. See couplet 35.

Fasciae sometimes indistinct.

Pattern of markings forewing very variable, usually only a whitish basal spot, but also two opposite spots at two-thirds occur and enlarged spots occasionally confluent, sometimes forewing unicolorous dark coloured (see couplet 17). Frons yellowish, vertex brown to black.

July, August and October. Forewing shining coppery purple. Frons and vertex orange to ferruginous.

5.5-7.0mm. June. Forewing blackish brown with a faint purplish sheen. Hindwing in male with short ochreous hair-pencil at one-fifth. Frons and vertex yellowish to ferruginous.

4.6-5.5mm. May, June and July, August (in Britain). Forewing dark grey, irrorated with dark-tipped scales; occasionally pale dorsal spot absent. Frons and vertex ochreous, orange or ferruginous. See couplet 8.

4.4-6.3mm. May and June (in Britain). Forewing with tornal spot usually present, sometimes obsolete or absent. Hindwing of male with whitish hair-pencil near frenulum on underside. Frons and vertex yellowish orange to ferruginous; collar generally paler; eyecap yellowish white. See couplet 9.

4.9-6.3mm. June and August. Hindwing male without hair-pencil. Frons and vertex yellowish orange to ferruginous ochreous.

Basal area of forewing without or with only a few whitish scales.

5.0-6.5mm. Late April to July. Forewing blackish brown; both spots sometimes connected . An imaginary line connecting both spots perpendicular to costa (compare with both species of couplet 77). Frons, vertex and collar orange to ferruginous. See couplet 90.

6.5-8.5mm. Late May to August (in Britain). Forewing blackish brown; a rare form without pale spots occurs (see couplet 12). Frons orange, vertex ferruginous. In The Netherland parthenogenic.

4.2-5.8mm. July and August. Forewing blackish brown, basal third sometimes silvery grey. Frons and vertex from dark ferruginous to blackish brown. See couplet 63.

5.0-7.2mm, occasionally smaller. Late May and June (in Britain). Forewing blackish brown, irrorated paler; dorsal spot sometimes extending along dorsum towards base; the very rare f. simplicella Von Heinemann with yellowish white, almost unicolorous forewings is not known from The Netherlands. Frons and vertex from yellowish orange to ferruginous.

4.5-7.0mm. May, June and August (in Britain). Forewing blackish grey, irrorated with dark-tipped and sometimes white scales; both spots often form a fascia (see couplet 91). Frons and vertex yellowish orange, ferruginous or ochreous.

See couplet 60.

5.4-6.0mm. Late May, early June and late July, August. Forewing dark greyish brown with very variable pattern of creamy white markings. Frons and vertex ochreous yellow to pale brown. Abdomen in female yellowish orange, in male greyish brown. See couplet 75.

June to August. Forewing blackish brown with variable pattern of white or whitish spots. See couplets 67 and 72.

May and June. Forewing as in male of E. hannoverella. From the foregoing it appears that dark-headed males belong to E. turbidella and pale-headed males with wingspan 5.0-6.0mm to E. hannoverella. Pale-headed males with wingspan 6.0-7.0mm can be inspected without dissection by brushing away some hair-scales. The valvae are different in shape, in E. hannoverella apically tapered without a tooth and slightly curved inwards, in E. turbidella with an apical tooth abruptly pointing inwards. Males with wingspan 7.0-8.5mm belong to E. turbidella. See couplet 67.

6.0-7.5mm. See couplets 66 and 72.

6.8-8.0mm. May and June. Forewing as male of E. hannoverella (couplet 66).

4.8-8.1mm. Late May to mid August. Forewing blackish brown with basal spot, fascia at one-third (often connected with basal spot), costal spot at two-thirds and tornal spot, all creamy white. Frons vertex and collar black or blackish.

4.2-5.6mm. June and July (in England). Forewing black with costal spot at one-third, a dorsal spot near tornus and a discal spot at three-quarters, all silvery white. Frons, vertex and collar black.

Form with confluent costal and dorsal spots. See couplets 66 and 67.

Form with confluent costal and dorsal spots. See couplet 77.

6.1-9.2mm. May, June and August (in Central Europe) Forewing blackish brown with basal spot, fascia at one-third, costal spot at two-thirds and tornal spot, all pure white. Frons and collar ferruginous, sometimes more yellowish.

5.7-6.8mm. April, May, July and September (in Britian). Forewing blackish brown with similar markings as E. sericopeza, but not pure white, but creamy white. Frons and collar more yellowish orange than in preceding species.

See couplet 63.

4.9 – 6.3mm. June and early July. Forewing coarsely scaled, blackish brown with white spots, viz. a basal spot (sometimes only a few scales), a roundish spot in basal area and well – defined triangular tornal and costal spots; spots never confluent. Frons and vertex ochreous to ferruginous; collar and eyecap whitish

4.0-6.0mm. May to July. Forewing blackish brown with white basal spot, usually not extending to beyond one-third of distance to tornal spot; costal and tornal spots sometimes confluent, an imaginary line connecting costal and tornal spots at an angle of 60° to costa. Compare with E. albifasciella (couplet 59 ). See also couplet 72.

4.2-5.5mm. June and July. Forewing blackish brown with basal, tornal and costal spots, basal spot often extending along dorsum to one-half of distance to tornal spot or more, an imaginary line connecting costal and tornal spots at an angle of 60° to costa (see couplet 61). The male genitalia of E. subbimaculella and E. heringi are almost identical, the female genitalia differ slightly.

4.5-5.5mm. May and August (in England). Forewing dark purplish bronzy with violet and blue reflections. Frons and vertex black, collar bronzy black.

The combination of paler cilia and the line of dark-tipped scales is essential.

Forewing with terminal cilia often tipped whitish or silvery at apex; in Stigmella alnetella cilia shining grey beyond a line of purplish scales.

4.6-6.0mm. Late June and July (in Britain). Forewing blackish with silver fascia in middle of wing. Vertex and collar black, eyecap yellowish white.

Blackish-headed specimens occur very occasionally in E. atricollis and E. spinosella (see couplet 87).

4.4-6.6mm. July (in Britain). Forewing brownish black with metallic silver fascia, constricted before middle, occasionally interrupted and usually extended along dorsum. Eyecap ochreous white.

4.5-5.5mm. From May to August. Forewing dark greyish brown, the narrow silvery fascia often constricted in middle. Frons and vertex ochreous or ferruginous; eyecap whitish.

The blackish grey forewing of E. spinosella may have a very faint purplish shine (see couplet 87).

April to September. Forewing proximal to fascia shining brown, the silvery or pale golden fascia (usually constricted in middle) preceded by purplish shading, distal to fascia dark purplish brown. Hindwing of male at base of costa with a large pencil of black androconial hair-scales. Collar dark leaden grey, eyecap pale ochreous yellow.

May and probably later in the year (in Central Europe). Forewing dark brown, base if costa with blue or purplish reflections, fascia shining silver or pale golden. Collar dark brown, eyecap white.

3.6-5.2mm. June and July (in Britain). Forewing black with the narrow silver fascia at an angle of 60o to dorsum, sometimes narrowed in disc, but rarely extended along costa or dorsum. Hindwing in male with pencil of pale yellowish hair-scales at base of costa. Frons yellow to ferruginous mixed with darker hair-scales, vertex slightly darker, collar black, eyecap white or yellowish white.

June (in England). Forewing blackish grey with relatively broad silvery fascia, concave at inner edge. Underside forewing in male with long tuft of grey or white hair-scales near base of costa. Hindwing also in male with a pencil of dark brown hair-scales at base of costa on upper side. Frons and vertex orange to brownish orange, collar blackish brown, eyecap cream.

July. Forewing blackish brown with narrow silvery fascia, nearly straight at inner edge, sometimes interrupted in disc or slightly extended towards base along costa and dorsum. Underside forewing in male without tuft of hair-scales. Hindwing in male with a pencil of white hair-scales at base of costa on upper side. Frons and vertex orange to ferruginous, collar black, eyecap yellowish white.

Form with confluent costal and dorsal spots in forewing. Hindwing in male with costal bristles. See couplet 59.

4.6-6.0mm. June and August, September. Forewing blackish brown; fascia sometimes extending along dorsum towards base. Hindwing in both sexes with costal bristles. Frons and vertex yellowish orange to ferruginous orange; collar and eyecap white or whitish.

Form with costal and dorsal spots confluent. Hindwing in male with long white hair-pencil near base costa. See couplet 61.

5.0-6.0mm. Mid May to early July. In Britain also in August. Forewing with area distal to fascia dark brown; fascia sometimes interrupted or less distinct. Frons and vertex yellowish white to orange; collar pale yellow; eyecap whitish.

This form with pale fascia (sometimes interrupted) is the commonest. See couplets 31, 35 and 98.

This is the form with fascia. See couplet 25.

May (in Britain). Forewing greyish brown. Frons and vertex ochreous yellow to greyish brown; collar whitish, eyecap white.

5.0-7.0mm. April to June and probably a small second brood later in the year. Forewing with basal two-thirds greyish brown, distal part darker with faint purplish gloss; fascia pale grey or white, sometimes interrupted or absent; terminal cilia greyish white. Frons ochreous, sometimes more orange, vertex slightly paler; collar whitish; eyecap whitish.

5.0-7.0mm. May. Forewing with basal two-thirds yellowish brown to greyish brown, distal part darker with faint purplish gloss; fascia pale yellowish grey or yellowish white, sometimes interrupted or absent; terminal cilia pale greyish yellow. Frons and vertex ochreous yellow to ochreous brown; collar and eyecap whitish.

5.0-6.0mm. Late April, May and July, August. Forewing dark greyish brown, distal part slightly darker with faint violet reflections; fascia pale yellowish, not constricted or widened at dorsum. Underside of forewing in male with a conspicuous patch of dark brown scales near base. Frons and vertex pale ochreous; collar pale yellow; eyecap white.

Underside of forewing in male without patch of dark brown scales.

Form with fascia (sometimes interrupted). See couplets 31, 35 and 92.

5.4-6.3mm. May, June and October. Forewing with distal area only slightly darker than basal half; fascia white or whitish, slightly glossy, usually broader at dorsum. Frons and vertex pale ochreous to ferruginous orange; collar white or whitish; eyecap white.

5.0-6.0mm. Late April to August. Forewing with distal area dark purplish brown, occasionally not darker towards fascia; fascia white or whitish; underside forewing in male with conspicuous patch of blackish brown scales near base. Hindwing in male near base of costa with brush of hair-scales on underside. Frons and vertex pale yellow or yellowish orange; collar yellowish white; eyecap white.

4.0-5.2mm. May and August. Forewing purplish black; fascia whitish, slightly concave, not obscure at costa, not broadened at dorsum. Frons and vertex ochreous yellow to orange; collar whitish; eyecap whitish.

June and July. Forewing proximal to fascia bronzy or brown, distal area blackish purple; fascia sometimes ill-defined, yellowish, narrowed or obsolete near costa, often broadened at dorsum. Frons and vertex pale yellow to dark brown; collar white or whitish; eyecap whitish.

Rare form (see couplet 106).

4.0-4.6mm. May and July, August. Forewing proximal to fascia purplish bronze, distal to fascia blackish purple; fascia yellowish, slightly shining, straight and widest at dorsum, tapering towards costa. Frons and vertex ochreous yellow; collar and eyecap yellowish white.

Ectoedemia occultella occasionally with faint purplish reflections (see couplet 107).

3.5-4.8mm. May to August. Forewing proximal to fascia bronzy or purple brown, distal to fascia purplish black; fascia shining white or whitish, often slightly constricted in middle. Frons and vertex ochreous yellow; collar and eyecap white or whitish. Parthenogenetic.

3.4-4.6mm. June and August. Commonest form. Forewing proximal to fascia purplish bronze, distal to fascia purplish black; fascia whitish, sometimes faintly metallic, not constricted, relatively broad. Frons and vertex pale ochreous yellow, often mixed dark; collar pale yellow or greyish; eyecap whitish.

Late April to June. Forewing black; fascia yellowish white, sometimes constricted or interrupted in middle. Frons and vertex in male black (often mixed with paler hair-scales), occasionally pale coloured as in female; collar similar. Frons and vertex in female yellow to ferruginous yellow; collar yellow; eyecap white.

May. Forewing black to dark grey; fascia white, sometimes constricted or interrupted in middle. Frons and vertex in male black; collar black; eyecap white. Vertex in female always black; frons also black, but often mixed with paler hair-scales, occasionally ferruginous yellow; collar black; eyecap white.

4.9-5.4mm. May, June and August. Forewing with fascia shining silver. Frons and vertex ochreous to orange; collar yellowish white; eyecap pale yellow. See couplet 128.

4.8-5.3mm. May and also later in the year in Central Europe. Forewing with fascia shining silver. Frons and vertex yellowish orange; collar pale yellow or pale ochreous; eyecap yellowish white.

4.8-5.5mm. July. Forewing with distal area purplish black; fascia strongly shining silver to pale golden. Frons and vertex pale ochreous to ferruginous; collar dark brown; eyecap white. See couplet 127.

Late April to June and September. Forewing with distal area purplish black with strong violet blue reflections; fascia concave, pale golden or silvery. Frons and vertex orange through ochreous yellow to ferruginous; collar dark brown; eyecap pale yellow. See couplet 119.

March to May, probably continuously brooded. Forewing with distal area purplish black with violet blue reflections; fascia straight, shining golden. Frons and vertex orange to brown; collar dark brown, shining; eyecap pale yellow to pale brown. See couplet 128. This is the common pale-headed form.

June to August. The red-headed form. Forewing proximal to fascia bronzy or golden brown, distal to fascia purplish brown; fascia silvery to pale golden, shining. Costa and dorsum hindwing of male with brownish to bluish androconial scales extending over cilia to at most one-fifth. Frons and vertex ferruginous; collar whitish to brown; eyecap white. See also couplet 125.

June. Forewing proximal and distal to fascia shining brown; fascia outwardly angulated, bright silver, sometimes interrupted. Frons and vertex orange, collar shining dark brown

5.0-6.0mm. April, May and July, August (in Britain). Forewing brown to blackish with purple gloss; fascia silver or pale golden. Frons and vertex ferruginous; eyecap whitish. See couplet 124.

4.5-5.0mm. Late May and June (in Britain). Forewing distal to fascia purplish black; fascia broad, pale golden. Frons and vertex ferruginous orange; collar blackish brown; eyecap whitish.

3.9-4.8mm. May, June and August (in Britain). Forewing proximal to fascia purplish dark brown to blackish; fascia narrow, bright silver. Frons and vertex ferruginous; scape shining whitish, usually edged with metallic grey.

The white or pale yellow scape not edged greyish.

Here key out specimens of S. plagicolella without a distinctly darker band preceding fascia. See couplet 112.

May and August (in Britain). Forewing proximal to fascia bronzy brown with faint or obscure purple reflections, distal to fascia dark purplish brown, fascia silver to pale golden. Frons ochreous to ferruginous; vertex brown; collar dark brown; eyecap pale yellow.

May and early August. Forewing proximal to fascia dark bronzy brown with faint purple reflections, distal to fascia darker, also with faint purple reflections. Frons pale ochreous to ferruginous; vertex darker; collar dark brown; eyecap pale yellow. S. ulmariae and S. poterii hardly separable on external characters. Male genitalia can be inspected without dissection; in S. ulmariae distal process of valva strong and pointed, in S. poterii long and blunt. The female genitalia of both species are not separable without dissection.

4.8-5.6mm. Mainly in June (in Britain). Forewing proximal to fascia bright coppery with variable purplish gloss, distal to fascia purplish black; fascia silvery, narrowed and sometimes obsolete at costa. Frons and vertex blackish; collar blackish; eyecap white or whitish.

5.0-6.0mm. The rare black-headed form hodgkinsoni Stainton. See couplet 117.

June to August. The black-headed form. See also couplet 115.

Form with dark collar. See couplet 130.

4.5-5.0mm. July. Forewing proximal to fascia shining golden brown, distal to fascia purplish black; fascia strongly shining silver to pale golden. Frons, vertex and collar black. See for female couplet 112.

5.0-5.5mm. May, June and August. Forewing proximal to fascia shining bronzy golden with strong violet purplish reflections, distal to fascia dark brownish purple; fascia shining silver. Frons ochreous, vertex black; collar blackish brown. See couplet 111.

4.5-6.0mm. June and July. Forewing proximal to fascia shining purplish golden, somewhat greenish, distal to fascia dark purplish brown; fascia pale golden. Frons and vertex ochreous to dark brown; collar blackish purple; eyecap white or whitish.

Specimens with dark vertex. See couplet 112 for the common form with orange head.

4.0-4.7mm. May and August (in Britain). Forewing with basal half shining golden or bronze, fascia preceded by a broad dark purple band, distal to fascia dark purplish brown; fascia silvery or pale golden. Frons and vertex blackish; collar whitish; eyecap white.

3.5-4.9mm. May, June and August (in England). Forewing distal to fascia dark purplish brown; fascia silvery to pale golden, occasionally fascia absent (see couplet 21). Hindwing in male without androconial hair-scales. Frons and vertex blackish brown to black; collar whitish; eyecap white.

3.5-4.5mm. May and early June (in Britain). This is the common form with pale collar (see couplet 125). Forewing distal to fascia purplish black; fascia silvery to pale golden. Hindwing of male with short blackish androconial hair-scales along costa and dorsum, extending over dorsal cilia to one-quarter of length of cilia at most. Frons and vertex black; collar pale coloured; eyecap white.