Hantsmoths

Rare immigrant from southern Europe, appearing in southern England on approximately 15 occasions in the 19th Century, but there were none for over 100 years until the 1990s, since when there have been over 60 reports nationwide, including 20+ in 2020 with indications of local breeding in Sussex. In our area, the first was in the New Forest in 1996, with further individuals in North Hampshire in 2004 and Isle of Wight in 2013, representing firsts for each of the three vice-counties. Since 2018 it has been more or less annual, with three on the Island in 2022. Wingspan 30-32 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on Ground-ivy, Field Bindweed, Common Mallow, Dwarf Mallow and Marsh-mallow.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records

Very occasional

Irregular

Uncommon

Off-peak, but not unusual

Main flight time

	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

VC10 Isle of Wight

Site	Date	Quantity	Recorder	Stage
Wheelers Bay (SZ57)	02/08/2013	one	Andy Butler	Adult
Totland (SZ38)	27/07/2019	one	Sam Knill-Jones	Adult
Bonchurch (SZ57)	14/08/2022	one	James Halsey	Adult
Wheelers Bay (SZ57)	27/08/2022	one	Iain Outlaw	Adult
Wheelers Bay (SZ57)	27/08/2022	one	Andy Butler	Adult

VC11 South Hampshire

Site	Date	Quantity	Recorder	Stage
Linford (SU10)	19/08/1996	one	Andy Page	Adult
Dibden Purlieu (SU40)	11/06/2018	one	Bob Chapman	Adult
Northney, Hayling Island (SU70)	31/07/2020	-	John W Phillips	Adult