General comments:
Adventive.

Recorded only at Enfield Vicarage (15 & 28 August 1971) and Hornsey (2004) - both garden light traps. Wild larvae feed on Juniperus. Regrettably, there is no voucher specimen to support the Hornsey record, which has been called into question, primarily on the basis of the date. The captor, an experienced Coleopterist, referred to the diagnostic nature of the labial palpi – a feature specifically mentioned in the ID key to Gelechia species within Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland (Harley Books). This feature is illustrated, though not specifically emphasised, in the more recent and comprehensive work on The Gelechiidae of North-west Europe by Gregerson & Karsholt (2022). In this latter work, the illustrations appear to suggest a greater possibility for confusion between sabinellus and senticetella, though the captor was familiar with the latter species, which was also present in his light trap, occasionally, at that same period. Clearly he regarded the specimen as different enough to run it through the key. It is worth mentioning that the captor is not under any sort of criticism; it is far more likely that the palp character in the key is less reliable than indicated. The need to retain a voucher specimen for any unexpected or unusual record cannot be over-emphasised.

	Retained Specimen / Photograph will be Required.

Recorded in 2 (5%) of 41 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1971. Last Recorded in 2004. Additional Stats

Exit Recorder