49.0381 BF997

African Carnation Tortrix Epichoristodes acerbella

(Walker, 1864)

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Wingspan 13-18 mm.

An adventive species, which has been accidentally imported several times as a larva in carnations (Dianthus) and other plants from Africa.

Until recently the adults had not been recorded in the wild, but there have now been a couple of occurrences, suggesting that the species may be surviving in small numbers under natural conditions. The photo depicted was captured at Fernham in Oxfordshire, and is believed to be the second wild-caught British specimen.