Prev Flights Rec Search
Nematopogon metaxella
Dark-dotted Longhorn (Hübner, 1813)
Adelidae: Nematopopgoninae
143 / 7.014
Photo © Raymond A Watson,  Hollesley, Suffolk.

Similar Suffolk Species
Large Longhorn
Nematopogon swammerdamella
Sandy Longhorn
Nematopogon schwarziellus
Wingspan: 15-17mm
Flight: June - July.
Foodplant:   Various herbaceous plants.
Nat Status: Local
Verification Grade:  Adult: 3

Morley’s Final Catalogue: Found to occur with us at Beccles, after 1890 (Dr. Crowfoot,
Trans, i, 35).

Recent Status: Recorded in Suffolk but not common.

Life Style: A single brooded species that comes to light and flies during June and July. The larvae feed on dead leaves from a portable case constructed from overlapping pieces of dead leaves. The case is flat, bivalve, tapering but rounded at each end. The larvae may take two years to develop. They pupate in the case.

Identification: The three species of Nematopogon in Suffolk, N. swammerdamella, N. schwarziellus and N. metaxella are similar. They can be distinguished as follows. N. swammerdamella is the largest at 18 to 22mm wing-span, N. schwarziellus is 14 to 18mm and N. metaxella is 13 to 17mm. N. metaxella has a white face and palps. They all have a yellow ochre crown. N. schwarziellus shows a distinct non reticulate tornal spot and a slight dark mark/line at the end of the discal cell. In N. metaxella the tornal spot is slight and the dark mark is strong. They are usually absent in N. swammerdamella. Reticulation is variable. The relative length of the antennae to the forewing length is only really of any value for identifying male N. metaxella where it is three. Note that it is two and a half for N. swammerdamella males and is sexually dimorphic in all species which makes this character difficult beyond those two males. The size, face colour and tornal spot are the primary factors. More Info

Retained Specimen / Photograph will be Required.

Recorded in 19 (33%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1890.
Last Recorded in 2023.

Latest 5 Records
Date#VC10k Area
29/06/2023+25TM34 - Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
23/06/2023126TL96 - Thurston/Elmswell
19/06/2023125TM46 - Minsmere/Leiston
17/06/2023+25TM34 - Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
17/06/2023625TM47 - Blythburgh/Dunwich
Further info: Nematopogon metaxella
 
UK Moths
Mothdissection UK
Norfolk Moths
Cambs Moths
Lepiforum.de Suffolk Moths (Full)
Back Record Home
iMoths V10.1 HD © Jim Wheeler 2024