FlyinginFordham: Peak mothing May

The trap was still busy come last weekend, less numbers but the species were still racking up!

Two new macros, but 7 new micros, shows how much the smaller moths like these warmer and calmer conditions.

I was busy potting up some quality local species such as Sciota adelphella and Aethes beatricella, then checking all of the Ephestia spercies that were dotted around the house wall behind the trap, I noticed a smaller specimen, so quickly potted it up and got my hand lens out.

No... it can't be. Looking closely at it dorsally, the moth matches the imago of a moth I took new for Britain back in 2021, Euzopherodes vapidella.

The specimen I took came to my actinic trap where I worked at a town cemetery, the origin was never conclusive, but it was noted at the time that there were several open fresh food vendors in the area that were selling various exotic fruits.

Now, this area is 37 miles away from my garden. If it does turn out to be a second example of this species then I will be ecstatic to say the least.

I will be hopefully getting it dissected by Colin Plant this weekend.