Festoon in Bucks

The Festoon Apoda limacodes, a moth of mainly SE England, has been spreading since the 1990s. Both Berks and Oxon have seen the increase and spread, but it has only popped up in Bucks during 2020. There were single records, both supported by photos, from Jonathan Jones on 12 July at Farnham Common SU9585 and Paul Bowyer and Karen Roberts on 16 July at Flackwell Heath SU8989. Neither recorder realised the significance of their finds at the time. Previous Bucks records are very limited. It is not mentioned in the 1904 Victoria County History, but is mentioned in the 1939 edition of The Moths of the British Isles by Richard South as being known from Bucks woodlands. Apart from that there are two single records by David Wedd near Marlow SU8385, one being in the period 1983 to 1985 and the other on 12 July 1991. It is associated with lowland deciduous woodland and other wooded areas with the food plants. These are usually pedunculate oak, but also other oak species and beech. One to look out for in Bucks this year and please try and get a photo to verify the record (as you should do with any new species). Thanks to Jonathan, Paul and Karen for letting their records and pictures be shared on the blog.