This pyralid from East Oxford on 25 July looks like a very good match to Vitula biviella (Pine-blossom Knot-horn). It really lacks any of the warmer colours that I am used to seeing on Ephestia spp. From the micro maps link, it has been seen in VC22 at least once, but (assuming it can be identified) is this another expanding species and are there more recent records from VC23?
Hi Ben
ReplyDeleteI agree that your moth looks to be quite a good fit for Vitula biviella. However, this can be a very difficult little group to identify on sight and I'm not sure whether it would be accepted as a good record without dissection, especially with the potential that it might be a county first. Here in Bucks we have five records (all from the south of the county over the period 2011-2018 and all confirmed by genitalia examination) and there is one for Berkshire in 2012, but I'm not aware of any yet for Oxon. It is associated with pine trees, especially in parkland, so there's no real reason why it shouldn't have expanded into your area by now. It would be worth hanging on to the moth if you still have it.
Thanks Dave. Sadly I messed this up - it escaped moments after the upper photo.
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