BR. J. ENT. NAT. MIST., 6: 1993 147 



Remarks. There is considerable variation in the extent of orange-brown scales; 

 specimens from Britain and Denmark exhibit more of these scales and have therefore 

 been treated as a distinct subspecies (semidecundrella) in the past. Moths of a similar 

 external appearance also occur in Southern Europe and so it seems unsatisfactory 

 to give this form subspecific status. C. alsinella is very similar to proximurn externally; 

 it usually differs in the smaller black patch at 3. It is distinguished from the similar 

 junctella by the head and thorax which are not metallic shiny. The genitalia are 

 extremely similar to those of viscariella. C. alsinella differs from the latter mainly 

 in the smaller size and lack of orange-brown patches near the dorsum. It seems possible 

 that alsinella and viscariella are conspecific, although the host-plants and larval feeding 

 behaviour are different. Stainton (1867) illustrates the larvae of viscariella as green 

 in colour, those of alsinella yellow (as maculiferella). According to the original 

 description the colour of alsinella caterpillars is light green (Zeller, 1868). Benander 

 (1965) gives the colour of the larva as yellow or green. Further research should be 

 done to solve these discrepancies. Tentatively alsinella and viscariella are treated as 

 two different species. 



Biology. The larva is a leaf-miner in spring (S0nderup, 1949). Later it feeds on 

 spun shoots, flowers and seed-capsules of Cerastium semidecandrum L. before it 

 pupates in June (Stainton, 1867). On the Continent the larval stage has also been 

 found on Minuartia verna (L.) Hiern (Zeller, 1868) and Cerastium arvense L. Adults 

 have been collected from July to the middle of August, abroad from late June to 

 early October. In Britain it inhabits sandy coasts. 



Found locally on coasts of England, Wales and Scotland, not recorded from Ireland. 

 Abroad in Europe and Morocco. 



Caryocolum viscariella (Stainton, 1855), Plate V, Figs 12 and 13 



Wingspan 12-14 mm. Head, thorax and tegulae mid to dark brown mottled 

 with a few light scales, face white. Forewing mid to dark brown mottled with 

 whitish; M-shaped dorsum lightened, flecked with orange-brown; indistinct black 

 markings; broad patch from fold to costa at \, spots at §, f and apex; irregular 

 orange-brown patch distad of cell; white costal and tornal spots separated by 

 orange-brown streak. 



Male genitalia (Fig. 2). As described under alsinella. 



Female genitalia (Fig. 14). As described under alsinella, differences in the figures 

 compared with alsinella are as a result of individual variation. 



Remarks (see also remarks on alsinella). The forewing colour of this species varies 

 from distinctly marked to almost unicolorous dark brown. C. viscariella differs from 

 the somewhat similar vicinella in the extent of orange-brown scales as well as in genital 

 characters such as the shorter sacculus, the posterior margin of the vinculum and 

 the reduced antrum. Small specimens of viscariella sometimes resemble alsinella, but 

 they usually differ in the two orange-brown patches near the dorsum. The genitalia 

 are indistinguishable from those of alsinella and therefore viscariella and alsinella 

 could prove to be conspecific (see remarks on alsinella). 



Biology. According to Bradford (1979) the larva occurs from April to June, feeding 

 on a spun central shoot and living in the stem when not feeding. Bradford (1979) 

 gives Silene dioica (L.), Clairv., 5. latifolia Poiret ( = S. alba) and Lychnis viscaria 

 L. as host-plants. On the Continent the larva has been recorded also on Silene vulgaris 

 Garcke (Lhomme, 1946). Moths have been collected from early July to the middle 

 of August. 



Local in England and Wales, having spread eastwards in a remarkable way in the 

 early 1980s. Abroad throughout Europe except the south-west. 



