Dotted Masoner Blastobasis vittata

An adventive species that has not yet been recorded in Norfolk but is apparently well-recorded in some southern counties. Previously called Sussex Dowd.

It was by some chance that I was able to identify this individual. The trap contained a fair number of Blastobasis consisting of a mixture of what proved to be Black-banded Masoner Blastobasis rebeli, a new species for me, and what I took to be Common Masoner Blastobasis adustella. I retained some rebeli in order to confirm them by examining the genitalia, but was mindful that Blastobasis genitalia do not differ in particularly dramatic ways, and I thought it might prove helpful to make sure I had an adustella to compare them to. This individual was retained for that purpose and although with the benefit of hindsight I think there were clues in its appearance, it wasn't until I examined its genitalia that I realised it was in fact not adustella but vittata, another new species to me. Fortunately I was continuing to catch adustella at home when I looked at these so was able to obtain some comparative adustella material as well.

male Dotted Masoner Blastobasis vittata showing its genitalia including close-ups of its gnathos, uncus (2 angles) and valva, High Hurstwood (East Sussex, UK), 23rd July 2022