Hantsmoths

Increasingly common immigrant from southern Europe, appearing in southern England for the first time at New Romney, Kent, on 3 October 2002. Can now be found along the south coast, mostly in September and October, but occasionally as early as May. In our area first recorded in 2003, and 2006 saw a peak of 140 individuals in the southern two vice-counties: a further jump in numbers in 2018 has seen a subsequent exponential increase in records and it is increasingly frequent in the north of Hampshire. Wingspan 28-34 mm. On the continent, the larva feeds on various herbaceous plants.