Hantsmoths

Suspected rare immigrant, or perhaps accidentally imported, this species was new to Britain when trapped at MV light by Brian Elliott at Micheldever Spoil Heaps HWT Reserve near Overton, Hampshire in 2006. Further searches for the moth have to date proved fruitless. It is present across the whole of the European mainland, where, according to the Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of Belgium, the larva lives on fallen needles of different species of pine trees, and the adults fly in one generation a year from late May towards mid August. The origin of the single British specimen is unknown - it would appear to be an unlikely candidate for vagrancy and as the site is alongside a railway line, human assistance would seem most likely. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 19-21 mm.

VC12 North Hampshire