Tuta absoluta in Ipswich

This tiny (5mm long) moth was in my 125W MV Robinson trap this morning and would easily have escaped my attention had I not been checking the trap contents inside an outbuilding as is my usual practice. It has to be one of the most active micros I have ever come across, running almost constantly around the pot from the moment I took it off the window until the moment I gave up trying to photograph it and popped into the fridge several hours later. I suspected Tuta absoluta from it’s appearance and behaviour and Raymond Watson has been able to confirm the identification after viewing this one and only record shot I was able to achieve. If, by some miracle, I can get a better image I will post it in a future blog! So, with winds from the east, look out for this, but you’ll have to be quick!

Paul

Tuta absoluta, Ipswich, 4 October 2016

Tuta absoluta, Ipswich, 4 October 2016

This entry was posted in Sightings. Bookmark the permalink.