Liquorice Piercer

Although classified as a potential Red Data Book species at the last review (2012), the small day-flying tortrix Grapholita pallifrontana is probably a little more widespread than that suggests due to under-recording but it is still a species of conservation concern.  On 23rd May, just before going on holiday, I visited the only known site for it in Bucks which is on wild liquorice growing alongside a footpath near Weston Underwood in the far north of the county.  There was no sign of the moth at that time, but a return visit over lunchtime today produced a dozen examples sitting around on the food-plant.  A look at another nearby site for the plant produced one further moth which extends this colony into a second tetrad.

Grapholita pallifrontana, near Weston Underwood 15th June

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks