Diphthera festiva

Checklist Number
72.0824 [B&F: 2465a]

Verification
Record requires retention of specimen until confirmed, and may require dissection. Consult with CMR if unsure

Classification

Family:Erebidae
Subfamily:Erebinae
Genus:Diphthera
Species:festiva
Authority:(Fabricius, 1775)

Recorded once through accidental importation in produce from North America, at Union Dock, Limehouse, London on 19 September 1867. Not recorded in Hampshire or on the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 37-48 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on various herbaceous plants, trees and shrubs, causing sufficient damage to be a serious pest in some areas, no evidence of breeding in the UK.