Pied Buckthorn Beauty Phtheochroa sodaliana

Formerly given the vernacular name Buckthorn Conch.

This species is listed as Nationally Scarce but in Norfolk records seem to be increasing in recent years. However most are in the Brecks with a few in the Broads and not many in between or elsewhere.

In hindsight the clues to this ones identity were present externally, despite it's shoddy state, but this is a species that wasn't really on my radar at all. It was clearly one of the whitish conches with a dark dorsal fascia and some dark near the apex of the wing. Of the species that regularly appear in my garden Tawny-fronted Straw Neocochylis molliculana seemed the most likely candidate, but the splash of bright orange in the apex of the wing didn't fit that species. It was so worn though that I imagined it would need gen det to resolve and didn't spend too much time on it. When I examined the genitalia I became more intrigued - it clearly wasn't molliculana or any of the usual candidates - instead it looked like a species I had never encountered before, Phtheochroa sodaliana. A quick look at images of that species and yes, that made perfect sense. Fresh examples are beautiful, living up to their new vernacular name - hopefully a fresh one will appear here before too long...

male Pied Buckthorn Beauty Ptheochroa sodaliana showing genitalia, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 25th June 2023