74.0122 BF2420a

Earias vittella

(Fabricius, 1794)

Wingspan 17-23 mm.

The larva of this species has been found several times in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) pods, imported from India.

Until recently there had been no record of the adult occuring in Britain, until Steve Nash took the specimen illustrated at light in Dorset in June 2003.

This occurred during a period of high migrant activity, suggesting the possibility of a genuine vagrant. The Leicester individual was the second British Record in July 2006, taken by Adam Poole.

Abroad, the species occurs throughout Asia and Australia, and an example has subsequently been identified from southern Spain.