Phytomyptera zonella & minutissima
These were both discovered by Ivan Perry. Both species are very rare at the time of writing – minutissima coming from the west of England and zonella from the south. Coincidentally, I caught a P.zonella a few days after Ivan caught his but at a different locality. The species can be split here:
Key to the genus Phytomyptera
(excluding P. nigrina, which keys out in the main key).
1. Hind tibia with 3 dorsal apical spurs. 3 dc before the suture. Fore tibia with 3 – 4 ad … zonella Zett.
– Hind tibia with 2 apical spurs (the pd apical spur missing or very short). 2 dc before the suture. Fore tibia with 1 – 2 ad …………………………………………………… 2
2. Vein-M bending forwards towards the costa [vein M after the bend is also sinuous and fades in colour noticeably]……………………………………………………………. minutissima (Zett.)
– Vein-M continuing in a straight line towards the wing edge …………………. cingulata (R‑D.)