28.028 BF656a

Barea asbolaea

(Meyrick, 1884)

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Wingspan c. 22mm.

This Tasmanian species was first discovered in south-west Cornwall by Laurie Oakes in 2004 but was not recognised as this species until several years later when larger numbers had begun appearing in the same locality.

It is believed to have been introduced with imported along with tree ferns to a nearby nursery. Until recently the species had not been recorded outside a very small area but recently there have been records from slightly further afield in SW Cornwall.

The adults have been noted between April and September. In Australia the larvae feed on dead stems of gorse.