Pterophoridae (but not before breakfast!)
 

This is a family group I would love to get to know better, I just find them fascinating, and maybe the challenge to photograph them in natural environment has alot to do with it.

The first I think is a common one, but I felt this one was abit orange. Sept.
2 & 3 I believe are the same, No. 3 had just hatched out of pupae I found. Aug/Sept.
4. I don't know if this is identifiable, as usual it was hanging upside down on a waving grass stalk. July 2004
5. I would like confirmation it is Platyptilia pallidactyla (Haworth, 1811), May also be known as Gillmeria pallidactyla. July.

Thanks in anticipation.

Jim

The plumes are an interesting group but I understand safe identification often requires gen det.

The first might be Emmelina monodactyla, which can be confirmed by checking the pairs of spurs on the legs are unequal in length.

To be honest, my least favourite group... no standard, modern, good reference, many need to be at least set to see determining wing characteristics or as Brian says, gen.det. to separate. Very difficult to ID from photos - for a definitive answer you could try sending them to the expert, Colin Hart. I've saved a quote from him re monodactyla: "This species can range from almost bone-white through mottled buff-brown, to a form with plain orange-brown forewings. A good diagnostic in a photo are that the anterior plumes on the forewing are curved backwards...Also the basal spines on the hind legs are unequal in length."

Based on the first diagnostic, but perhaps not definitive, 1-4 are all probably E.monodactyla. I'd be happy with #5 as P.pallidactyla.

HTH (at least a little)

Mike

I would go for 1,2 & 3 as Emmelina monodactyla, 4 as one of the Stenoptilia possibly pterodactyla or bipunctidactyla & would agree with 5 as pallidactyla..

Stuart.

Many Thanks for your help on this. I had thought that No.2 was Emmelina monodactyla until I found No.1, then No.3 hatched, and the old joke came to mind of 3 spades against the wall, take your pick. I also had a 4th which had the hind wings spread, it was unfortunatly in the twilight and to dark to photograph. Next day in repose I found the style fell between the two variants above, that was depressing!! When the wings are out, there is a 'Wow' factor. Okay, I will now start checking hind spurs, check that there are no Pterophoridae on 'red list', catch and photograph, or vice versa, and see if we can get a good data reference built up. We have 66 specie in Austria to go at!!

I now know 'Downstairs' have a good contact in the Natural History Museum here in Wien, where the photos of other moth from last week have been/will be sent to for confirmation. Maybe they have a disecting enthusiast. I'd better now check it out first, but otherwise Mike, I would be interested to send stuff on, okay.

Thank you for confirmation too.

I'll sort another package out soon!!

Jim

This forum might not be your best bet then!

The first port of call will be UK Moths and www.bike2... to check on overlap, the second Leps.it, then surrounding lands. Then the slog begins with books and knife!! The Forum has value Mike!!!

More interestingly, I tried to find the Austrian Red List yesterday to check if any Pterophoridae appear on it, as there are 10 specie appearing only in single locations, and another 7 in two to three locations. To find if something is on the Red list you have to know it to type it in...? Not joking here, I actually took the problem to someone downstairs and they got the same result, so we have sent a request for clarification. In one of the lands you can buy the Red List including a CD from the local goverment!!! Oh yeah, I am going to do that!!! I am almost scared to ask to much in case the men in black come around and take me away because I want to know something that is a national secret.

When you don't hear from me for a while you know what happened, I got my hands on a 'free' copy of the Austrian Red List!!

Jim

Pterophoridae
 

I recently joind the forum and have been sifting through some messages. I gather that there is a general lack of materialon the Pterophoridae since Beirne, so I thought you might be interested in a guide to the Pterophoridae I just found. It is MICROLEPIDOPTERA OF EUROPE. Edited by P. Huemer, O. Karsholt & L. Lyneborg. 25 x 17 cm. Hardback. Vol. 1: Gielis, C.: Pterophoridae. 1996. 222 pages. 16 colour plates. Line drawings of genitalia for all species. ISBN 87-88757-36-6. DKK 440,00 from Apollo Books

Great if you dissect, but found it less than useful to identify live specimens, as plates are of mounted specimens and the text is not really comprehensive enough to highlight fieldmark characteristics (IMHO). I await vol.6 of MBGBI with baited breath...