Welcome to Leicestershire! The first record of Telechrysis tripuncta in VC55 was taken on the 28th May 2011 in a Sapcote garden. More...

Running a garden moth trap often brings surprises, after all very few of us know what lives or visits our homes after dark! Saturday 28th May proved a particularly rewarding day for Graham Calow when he found a mystery moth had been attracted to his light trap. After consultation with the county's experts and VC55 moth recorder it was established that this was a totally new species for Leicestershire.

An average garden can be visited by several hundred species of moth, some of which are surprisingly large and colourful. As with most insects, it is not unusual to find uncommon or possibly under-recorded species, but it is a rare treat to find a new species.

Time may tell whether this species of moth is expanding its range or has just been blown in. There are many changes currently taking place amongst our local wildlife. Some species are declining and be lost, others are expanding their range.