2022 Annual Report for: Crambidae / Acentropinae

For species seen in 2022 that had less than or equal to 100 records, full details are included; for more common species, the earliest, latest and highest count by vice-county are shown. The narrative for each species is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species. The tables in each species account summarise the previous status, and that for the current year.

For the maps, all records prior to 2022 are shown by a blue dot (the larger the dot, the more recent), with the current year's records shown in red. As previous records are superimposed on any report for 2022, new sites have greater emphasis (i.e. will show as 'more red').

In the species accounts, an asterisk next to a location indicates a new 10km square record; earliest ever dates are highlighted in orange, and latest ever in red. Initials in the species accounts refer to the recorders listed here. Please get in touch if you identify any omissions or errors, in particular if you have records that have yet to be submitted. Details of how to submit records can be found here.

63.114 [B&F: 1345] Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

Common in ponds and ditches throughout the British Isles. In Hampshire locally common in New Forest bogs and in ponds and canals across the county, with occasional wanderers elsewhere in the county and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 25-33 mm. The main confusion species is Beautiful China-mark Nymphula stagnata, but Brown China-mark is larger, with broader, browner wings. Larva feeds on aquatic plants such as Water-lily, Bur-reed and Pondweed Potamogeton, living entirely underwater.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10595318562021
111258166319512021
1223337419512021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10331
1124303
1212134

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: Cowes, one, 17 Jun (DNor); Osborne Wood, one, 23 Jun; Firestone Copse, one, 21 Jun (IOu);

VC11: Linwood, NF, one, 04 Jun (DMB); Hatchet Pond, NF, present, field observation, 15 Jul (iNat); Romsey, one, 07 Jul (MJB); Needs Ore NNR, four, 09 Jul (CNB); Dibden Purlieu, one, 03 Jun; three, 08 Jul; one, 17 Jul (RAC); West End, Southampton, one, field observation, 21 Jul (GgBak); Chilling cliffs, W of Brownwich cliffs, one, 17 Jun (RJD, MLO, ADT, DWal, KJW); Fareham, one, 27 Aug (MLO); Botley, one, 12 Jul (SLB); Lovedean, one, 16 Jun; one, 10 Aug; one, 11 Aug; one, 13 Aug (ARJ); Hurn, one, 25 Jul; Hengistbury Head, one, 10 Jun; one, 04 Jul (MJef); two, 14 Aug; two, 22 Aug; three, 23 Aug (RPH det. MJef); two, 11 Jul (MJef); New Milton, one, 02 Jul (MBar); Sway, one, 20 Jul (SKee); Lower Sandy Down, East Boldre, one, 27 Aug (DMor); Needs Ore NNR, two, 10 Jul (CNB);

VC12: Basingstoke, one, 18 Jul (MJW); Pamber Forest, one, 24 Aug (GJD); Whitehill, one, 16 Jun; one, 08 Jul (ASto); Hammer Vale, Woolmer, one, 18 Jun (ASwa); Farnham, present, 31 Aug (iNat); Yateley Common, case, one, field observation, on Potamogeton natans, 20 Mar; larva, four, field observation, spinning on Potamogeton natans, 03 Apr (BGD); Fleet Pond, one, 09 Jun (MHals); Hartland Country Park, Farnborough, present, field observation, 18 May; one, field observation, 09 Aug (MThmp); Blackwater, one, 12 Jul (BGD)

63.115 [B&F: 1331] Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) - Common

Common in ponds, lakes and slow rivers throughout much of the British Isles. In Hampshire and, to a lesser extent, on the Isle of Wight, locally abundant in suitable habitat throughout. Wingspan male 13-17 mm, female wingless. Only the distinctive male is likely to be encountered and on certain nights it undergoes massive dispersal flights when it appears at light far from water and often in vast numbers (1000+ not unknown). Larva feeds on Canadian Waterweed and Pondweed, living entirely underwater.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10113104419752021
1121932640019512021
128772052319512021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
102424470
1117768147
1278739175

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Shanklin, 22 Jun, 3 (IOu) Latest: Shanklin, 19 Aug, 1 (IOu) Max count: Plaish, Carisbrooke, 21 Jul, 70 (KRyl)

VC11: Earliest: Allbrook, 16 Jun, 1 (SIng) Latest: Needs Ore NNR, 02 Sep, 1 (CNB) Max count: Marchwood, 21 Jul, 47 (CTha)

VC12: Earliest: North Waltham, 22 Jun, 5 (AJon) Latest: Farnborough, 12 Sep, 2 (KBW) Max count: Farnborough, 18 Jul, 175 (KBW)

63.116 [B&F: 1354] Small China-mark Cataclysta lemnata (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

Common around ponds and reed-beds throughout the British Isles. In Hampshire locally common in suitable habitat, especially along the coast between Southampton and Gosport, and in north-east Hampshire; apparent increases in recent years may be due to increased observer coverage, but it remains very rare on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan male 18-19 mm, female 22-24 mm. Females nocturnal, males fly in the afternoon. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on Common Duckweed, Bulrush and Unbranched Bur-reed, living mostly underwater.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1011325618562021
1152885619512021
1211517919512021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10221
11466316
1213152

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Details

VC10: Haseley Manor, one, 10 Jul; Shanklin, one, 16 Jun (IOu);

VC11: Marchwood, one, 31 Jul (CTha); Totton, one, 02 Aug (CNB); one, 04 Jul; one, 12 Jul; one, 01 Aug; one, 11 Aug; one, 14 Aug; one, 25 Aug (LHan); Romsey, one, 18 Jul (SRC); Fishlake Meadows, two, 15 Aug (NRJ); Fishlake, one, 15 Aug (SIng); Romsey, one, 07 Jul; one, 13 Aug (MJB); 16, 21 Jul; one, 10 Sep (NRJ); Vale Park, Chandler's Ford, one, 10 Aug (KArb); Crawley, two, 30 Jul (GCE); Fareham, two, 31 Jul (IMcP); Funtley, one, 18 Jul; one, 21 Jul; one, 23 Jul (TDC); Fareham, one, 31 Jul (ADT); one, 17 Jul; one, 27 Jul; one, 01 Aug; one, 03 Sep; one, 19 Sep (MLO); one, male, 28 Jun; one, female, 20 Jul; one, male, 24 Jul; one, female, 10 Aug (KJW); Botley, one, 08 Jul; one, 12 Jul; one, 08 Jul; one, 01 Sep; one, 13 Sep (SLB); Stroud, Petersfield*, present, 13 Aug (RAll); Winton, one, 28 Aug (JCre); Hurn, one, 24 Aug (MJef); Everton, one, 22 Jul (MMcM); Pennington, one, 20 Jul; one, 26 Jul; one, 03 Aug (RFC); Needs Ore NNR, one, 11 Aug; one, 14 Jul; one, 25 Jul; one, 13 Aug (CNB);

VC12: Longstock, one, 18 Aug; Chilbolton, one, 18 Jul (GCE); Anna Valley, Andover, one, 23 Jul (TJN); Morn Hill, Winchester, one, 27 Aug (CRB, DAS, PDF et al); Basingstoke, one, 19 Jul (MJW); Whitehill, one, 08 Jun; two, 20 Jul (ASto); Hammer Vale, Woolmer, one, 25 Jul; one, 17 Aug (ASwa); Fleet Pond, one, 06 Jul (MHals); Blackwater, one, 24 Jul (BGD); Farnborough, one, 03 Jul; two, 12 Aug (KBW)

63.117 [B&F: 1348] Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

Common in ponds, canals and other aquatic habitats throughout England. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight evidently far less frequent than formerly. Wingspan male 22-24 mm, female 28-30 mm. Distinguished from other related species by the white, dark-rimmed discal spot, present in both sexes [Goater]. Larva feeds on various pondweeds and water plants, living entirely underwater.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10525718562021
11777102019512021
1231442119512021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1017337
1110916211
1236526

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Shanklin, 06 Jul, 1 (IOu) Latest: Wroxall, 26 Aug, 1 (JRB) Max count: Newport, 08 Jul, 7 (DPl)

VC11: Earliest: Woodlands, NF, 18 May, 0 (RBW) Latest: Needs Ore NNR, 09 Sep, 3 (CNB) Max count: Romsey, 21 Jul, 11 (NRJ)

VC12: Earliest: Great Haughurst Copse, Axmansford, 14 May, 1 (ACB) Latest: Hinton Ampner, 27 Aug, 1 (ASD) Max count: Farnborough, 18 Jul, 6 (KBW)

63.118 [B&F: 1350] Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata (Hufnagel, 1767) - Local

Local in ponds throughout much of Britain. In Hampshire widespread in the south, but in the northern half of the county, largely restricted to the north-east. Recorded on the Isle of Wight for the first time since 1952 at Freshwater in 2000. Wingspan 20-25 mm. Smaller and whiter than Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata; lightly marked specimens could be mistaken for male Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, but in that species the forewing discal spot is a closed circle [Goater]. Larva feeds on Branched Bur-reed, Unbranched Bur-reed, Yellow Water-lily and other water plants, living entirely underwater.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
106318562016
1126530019512021
12333919512021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1113173
12221

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Details

VC11: Hasley, NF, present, 19 Jul (AMD); Woodlands, NF, present, 01 Aug (RBW); one, 18 Jul (CJon); Fishlake Meadows, three, 02 Aug (NRJ); Fishlake, three, 02 Aug (SIng); Romsey, one, 07 Jul (MJB); Winter Down Copse, Little Somborne, one, 12 Jul (GCE); Needs Ore NNR, one, 09 Jul (CNB); Dibden Purlieu, one, 08 Aug (RAC); Allbrook, one, 22 Jul (SIng); Crawley, one, 30 Jul (GCE); Hurn, two, 06 Jun (MJef); Sway, one, 20 Jul (SKee); Pennington, two, 02 Aug (RFC);

VC12: Chilbolton, one, 18 Jul; Longparish*, one, 21 Jul (GCE)