Dove-grey Longtail Dicranophragma nemorale

This was keyed using the Stubbs BENHS book. I forgot to check for tibial spines and erroneously jumped to subfamily Chioneinae where naturally I hit a dead end. I matched it to nemorale initially by comparing the genitalia to diagrams in the book, but then realising my error it keyed well enough once I used the subfamily Limnophilinae key. The key seemed to suggest that the anterior pits should have been darker and more obvious than they were. The wing was 6.0mm long.

male Dove-grey Longtail Dicranophragma nemorale showing tibial spur, thorax from side, thorax from above, thorax from in front (showing indistinct anterior pits), wing and genitalia, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 16th July 2024

Although greyish, I didn't think this one was particularly dark so keyed it to what Stubbs calls Pallid Longtail Dicranophragma nemorale var. minisculum, though I think is now considered to be a distinct species, either Dicranophragma minisculum (sometimes given as minuscula). I thought the wings were perhaps as narrow as shown in Stubbs for minusculum too, but I wasn't convinced about that or the body colour - too grey? I also noted that it looked very much like the previous one I'd identified as nemorale above. I think minisculum is a much rarer form so would be unlikely (although as it was on the edge of carr woodland the habitat would perhaps fit). After reviewing a few photos online I think both are absolutely fine for the very common standard form nemorale, although I can't find much material showing minisculum to compare. The wing was 6.3mm long.

male Dove-grey Longtail Dicranophragma nemorale showing wing, tibial spur, head from above, thorax from above, thorax from side, squama, body from side and genitalia (before and after clearing), Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 29th June 2025