Hantsmoths

Very rare immigrant (less than 10 previous UK records) from damp woodland in central Europe, appearing on the south coast, where first recorded in Britain at Eastbridge, near Dymchurch, Kent on 14 June 2003 and soon after first recorded in our area, on the Isle of Wight, at Totland on 5 Jul 2003.. In Hampshire, first recorded at Northwood Park, Crawley on 29 June 2005, with further records in the Isle of Wight and South Hampshire in 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015 (to end 2016). Wingspan 36-40 mm. Some of the first examples were initially identified as aberrant Crescent Celaena leucostigma; key features are pinkish ground colour, strong red-brown shading along proximal edge of subterminal line, summer flight period and absence of white and obviously 'toothed' subterminal line. Larva feeds on Woody Nightshade, Field Bindweed, Garden Lettuce, Greater Burdock, etc.; no evidence of breeding in the UK.

VC10 Isle of Wight

VC11 South Hampshire

VC12 North Hampshire