I've just id'd this little moth from a batch caught at Steps Hill, near to Ivinghoe on July 22nd 2013. It is supposedly common, but for Bucks at least, it is a county first. You are supposed to be able to find the pupae by looking at the old seedheads of Common Fleabane and Spikenard. The pupal case is tough and mixed with frass and chewed seed fragments. Here's a link to the moth:
http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3456
They give you more collecting tips there as well. Meanwhile here is a photo of its bits.
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| Apodia bifractella male |
Peter Hall
It is not all that easy to spot the plants now, especially as in Bucks Common Fleabane is often a plant of damp areas and ditches which are currently rather full of water! However, three or four days ago I collected a batch of seedheads from a site near Greatmoor which will hopefully have dried out soon to permit closer inspection. Fingers crossed! Dave Wilton
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