Micro Moth Anatomy

External anatomy of a selection of micro moths illustrating some of their characteristic features. Micro moths differ widely in their shapes and sizes and only a few ‘types’ are shown here. Some of the larger Micro moths resemble Macro moths and vice versa. (A) Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis corylana), (B) Tufted Tortrix (Acleris cristana).

Wing vein nomenclature follows the Comstock-Needham system. Radius (R) and radial veins (R1-R5) are coloured red, Media (M) and medial veins (M1-M4) are coloured magenta, Cubitus (Cu) and cubital veins (Cu1, Cu2) are coloured blue. Note that in the hindwing the Subcosta (Sc) and first radial vein R1 have fused and the remaining radial veins have coalesced to form radial vein Rs. It is also assumed here that medial veins M4 and cubital vein Cu1 are fused to form M4+ Cu1. The discal cell D is an important reference point on the wing that often carries characteristic spots or stigmas. Some micro moths have characteristic tufts and scale crests on their wings or thorax that can carry strongly modified and enlarged scales.

(C) Thistle-root borer (Epiblema scutulana), (D) Rufous Stilt (Caloptilia rufipennella), (D) Gold W (Argyresthia brockeella)..  Resting positions of Micro moths can differ dramatically in their posture from declining, inclining to closely adpressed to the substrate. The tibia of their forelegs may carry an Epiphysis, a spur-like appendage that is used in cleaning antennae and the proboscis. The mid tibia usually has a pair of apical spurs and the hind tibia two pairs – an apical pair and a medial pair.

My thanks go to Christian Heintzen who has kindly put together these Moth Anatomy plates, text and schematic diagrams. They are truely superb. “The images are sole copyright of Christian Heintzen ©️ and must not be reproduced or downloaded in any form without prior consent”.


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