Stenoptilia aridus

Checklist Number
B027 [B&F: 1508b]

Verification
Record requires retention of specimen until confirmed, and may require dissection. Consult with CMR if unsure

Classification

Family:Pterophoridae
Subfamily:Pterophorinae
Genus:Stenoptilia
Species:aridus
Authority:(Zeller, 1847)

Considered by Gielis (1996, 2003) as a synonym of S. arida but Arenberger (2005) believed the differences in morphology and genitalia to be distinct enought to consider safe to separate at species level. In 'A Checklist of the Lepidoptera of the British Isles' (Agassiz, Beaven, Heckford) it is stated that a paratype of this species from Canterbury, Kent was cited by Gibeaux (1985: 248-250) as follows:

"Grande-Bretagne , Canterbury, 12-15-21-VI et 10-VII (Joannis); 5 femelles étiquettées «ex. Antirrhinum », 25-IX-82, sans localités (Ragonot); 1 femelle"

It is not clear to the author whether, on this basis, there is sufficient evidence for the present species to be included in the British list.