Euzopherodes vapidella - New to Britain - 19/06/21

I trapped a rather unusual looking Ephestia species back on the 19th of June at my works Actinic Trap (Which subsequently is the trap I now run in my garden).

The moth was dissected a few months later by Graeme Smith, and instantly Graeme could not match it with any of the Ephestia genitalia plates available to him.

The moth genitalia slide was then sent to numerous experts in Europe to confirm that it wasn't from the genus Ephestia, but actually Euzopherodes which is a completely new genus for the British Isles.

 

Eventually the moth was identified as Euzopherodes vapidella and new to Britain, very exciting indeed!

The species feeds from the Carob Tree, a species native to the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

This is now my second new to Britain species (And nearly my 3rd after spotting the Parallel Lines last year on Trevor Brownsell's sheet whilst packing up. Trevor, the record is yours don't worry!)

The full article will be available in the next edition of The Entomologist's Record and Journal of Variation and can be purchased from the following link. https://www.entrecord.com/ which is edited by Colin Plant and whom was a great help in the aid to the identification of this new species.

Once again I have to thank Graeme Smith for his dedicated time and knowledge, and being able to carry out the dissection for me. Graeme provides quick turn-arounds on moth genitalia dissections and can be found on the following link. https://mothsurvey.org/

Euzopherodes vapidella - 19/06/21 - Bishop's Stortford, East Herts

Works Actinic Trap where the moth was found