Hantsmoths

Rare immigrant from northern Europe, appearing on the south coast of England on nineteen occasions, with 14 of the 19 records from East Kent. There was a surge of records during the last decade of the 20th Century since which time raptricula has become exceedingly scarce again with one taken in Fareham, Hampshire in July 2021 being the first UK record since 2009, and only the second for the county after the first trapped in Southsea on 18 August 1955. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 26-34 mm. Records of this species will not be accepted unless the specimen is retained for examination. Larva feeds on various lichens, often on walls and tree trunks, no evidence of breeding in the UK.

VC11 South Hampshire