One of the rarest moths ever seen in Britain has turned up in a Devon garden for the first time in nearly half a century.
The accent gem moth, which hasn't been seen in this country for 45 years, was discovered about two weeks ago by lepidopterist Dave Wall in Exmouth.
Mr Wall, who runs a moth-friendly-trap in his garden and often finds migrant species, said: "But this was different – I didn't recognise it at first and had to look through my books and contact the Devon Moth Group to get it confirmed.
"Once we knew what it was, I just couldn't believe it and I was so excited that I was late into work that morning.
"When you first look at it you might think it's not that special, but this is only the second-ever sighting in Britain – and for such a tiny moth to have come such a long way is amazing. It's actually very pretty too, with these dark triangular markings and white ticks on the wings."
The accent gem's forewing is often reddish brown in colour or a darker, greyish brown. It was last seen in Kent in 1969.
ADVERTISEMENT
Moth officer for Butterfly Conservation's Devon branch, Barry Henwood, told the Western Morning News: "The only other record of this extremely rare migrant was at Halstead 45 years ago. That individual was somewhat worn, whereas the Exmouth moth was in excellent condition.
"It is found through most of Africa and may be established in the Azores, Portugal and Mediterranean coasts of Spain and France and eastwards to Lebanon.
"The moth must have travelled a long way to arrive in Exmouth, probably aided by warm southerly winds. As with many other rare immigrant moths, it has little chance of becoming established in Britain."
This is the second extremely rare migrant moth caught in Devon in recent months. Back in July, members of the Devon Moth Group also found a ringed border moth, a first for the county and only the third known British record.
