The Ni Moth (Trichoplusia ni) is a rare migrant moth in the UK, and I was lucky enough to see one today after my friend Paul Brewster trapped it last night and kindly invited me over to take a look.
This was a first for me, and according to the Cheshire Flying Tonight website, it is thought to be only the second record for Cheshire up to 2024.
It’s an immigrant species that turns up in small numbers in the UK most years, with no more than about 50 records annually. Its normal breeding range is southern Europe and North Africa, although occasional larvae have been found in Britain.
In its typical range, the larvae feed mainly on marigold (Calendula spp.) and sea rocket (Cakile maritima).
The species is nocturnal, and most UK records involve adults being attracted to light.
