Scrobipalpa ocellatella (beet moth)

 In my garden trap on Monday night (30/8).

Above: not of the same standard of photograph as some other contributors standards, but sufficient to show a distinctively-marked Scrobipalpa ocellatella. A second county record, with the first coming from the southern part (SS49) of Pembrey Burrows in 2006, presumably made by Jon Baker.

Steve Palmer (the Gelechiid Recording Scheme organiser) commented:

"Yes, spot on with S. ocellatella. The population in England has exploded this year and numbers, in mainly inland areas, where many are new county records, are almost in plague proportions at time. A friend in south Wiltshire had over 150 in his trap last night and it has made it as far north as South Yorkshire and South Lancashire. If the numbers keep building as they seem to be doing expect more in the next few days (or longer?).

There is a dark form which could be confused with S. atriplicella, but the pale form like yours is distinctive and won't need dissection".

On the Mothing Friends of Devon & Cornwall Facebook site is the following comment by Chris Vincent:

"29 potential Scrobipalpa ocellatella. This species is having an extremely bumper year across the south of the country. A strictly coastal species feeding on Sea Beet, they appear to have started utilising sugar beet and other beer crops and are being found far inland in large numbers, spreading westwards from the SE"