2023 Annual Report for: Erebidae / Toxocampinae
For species seen in 2023 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is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species.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 2023 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 2023, 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.
72.063 [B&F: 2466] Blackneck Lygephila pastinum (Treitschke, 1826) - Local
Local in damp meadows, fens, marshes, river-banks, damp woodland and calcareous grassland throughout much of S. England and S. Wales, north to Yorkshire. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight widespread, although has decreased and become more local. Wingspan 37-47 mm. The main confusion species is the extremely rare Scarce Blackneck L. craccae, which differs in having distal half of reniform stigmata weaker than proximal half, four dots on basal half of costa, and obscure or absent orbicular stigmata (dot on L. pastinum). Larva feeds on Tufted Vetch.
Records prior to 2023
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 108 | 88 | 1932 | 2022 |
| 11 | 535 | 635 | 1949 | 2022 |
| 12 | 233 | 184 | 1951 | 2022 |
2023 records
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 13 | 23 | 5 |
| 12 | 12 | 15 | 3 |
Records by year
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)
Record Details
VC11: Marchwood, one, 20 Jun (CTha); Fishlake Meadows, five, 15 Jun (NRJ); Allbrook, one, 21 Jun (SIng); Funtley, one, 14 Jun; three, 21 Jun; two, 29 Jun (TDC); Fareham, one, 16 Jun (ADT); one, 21 Jun (MLO); Curdridge, one, 07 Jul (JCol); Portchester, one, 05 Sep (DH-J); Waterlooville, two, 20 Jun; three, 27 Jun (DWhe); Beacon Hill nr Warnford, larva, one, vacuum sampling, small larva, fed on Vicia cracca in captitity, and refused to feed on V. sativa. Moth emerged 18.vi.2023., 17 Apr (MChg det. RJD);
VC12: Goodworth Clatford, two, 01 Jul (TJN); Bransbury Common, one, 17 Jun (DAS); Cole Henley, one, 17 Jun; one, 07 Jul (GCE); Magdalen Hill Down NNR, three, 24 Jun (KArb, ARho, PPea); Morn Hill, Winchester, one, 10 Jun (CRB, DAS, PDF et al); one, 10 Jun; one, 08 Jul (CRB, PDF, DAS, LHur); Overton, one, 28 Aug (ACr); Bentley Station Meadow, one, field observation, 24 Jun (KRic); Hammer Vale, Woolmer*, one, 27 Jun (ASwa); Farnborough, one, 07 Jul (MThmp)
72.066 [B&F: 2475] Waved Black Parascotia fuliginaria (Linnaeus, 1761) - Nb
Nationally scarce (Nb) in damp woodland and log-piles in parts of southern England. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight was at one time virtually confined to the Bagshot Sands area of the north-east; however, the last three decades have seen it extend its range and the species is now reported in small numbers in pine-birch-heath habitats throughout. Wingspan 25-31 mm. Although the species is unmistakable once known, it is a rather atypical noctuid, more resembling a geometer superficially. Larva feeds communally on bracket fungi growing on decaying logs in damp woodland.
Records prior to 2023
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1 | 0 | 1951 | 1951 |
| 11 | 665 | 689 | 1961 | 2022 |
| 12 | 435 | 456 | 1900 | 2022 |
2023 records
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 20 | 21 | 2 |
| 12 | 16 | 13 | 1 |
Records by year
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)
Record Details
VC11: Blashford Lakes HIWWT NR, one, 08 Jul (PWhtk); Marchwood, one, 05 Jul (CTha); Romsey, two, 06 Jul; one, 16 Jul; one, 15 Aug (NRJ); Needs Ore NNR, one, 02 Jul (PCra); one, 23 Jul (CNB); Dibden Purlieu, NF, one, 24 Jun; one, 29 Jun; one, 21 Jul (RAC); Winchester, one, 07 Jul (THW); Fareham, larva, one, 27 May (KIls); Botley, one, 01 Aug (SLB); Wickham, one, 09 Jul; one, 11 Jul (JRDS); Lovedean, one, 03 Aug (ARJa); Hurn, one, 11 Jul (MJef); Sway, one, 27 Jul; one, 02 Aug (SKee); Pennington, one, 25 Jul (RFC);
VC12: The Hawk Conservancy, Weyhill, present, field observation, 21 Jul (iNat); Cole Henley, one, 27 Jul (GCE); Overton, one, 24 Jul; one, 19 Jul; one, 10 Aug (ACr); North Waltham, one, 27 Jul; one, 09 Aug (AJon); Basingstoke, one, 27 Jul (MJW); Pamber Forest, one, 26 Jul (GJD); Alton, one, 13 Jul; one, 18 Jul (DBO); Selborne, one, 25 Jul (CJP); Bentley Station Meadow, one, 08 Aug (NDP, KBW det. KBW); Hammer Vale, Woolmer, one, 12 Aug (ASwa); Farnham, present, field observation, 13 Jul; present, field observation, 22 Jul (iNat)
72.067 [B&F: 2470] Small Purple-barred Phytometra viridaria (Clerck, 1759) - Local
Local in calcareous grassland, heathland, moorland, woodland rides and sand-dunes throughout much of the British Isles. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight widespread and locally common in two different habitats, chalk downland and heaths. Wingspan 20-23 mm. Fairly unmistakable. Larva feeds on Common Milkwort and Heath Milkwort, over-wintering as a pupa.
Records prior to 2023
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 41 | 41 | 1951 | 2022 |
| 11 | 361 | 327 | 1951 | 2022 |
| 12 | 97 | 118 | 1951 | 2020 |
2023 records
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 5 | 9 | 3 |
| 12 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
Records by year
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)
Record Details
VC10: Rew Down, one, field observation, 25 Jul (AMD);
VC11: Ober Water, NF, two, field observation, 13 Jul (HVau); Marchwood, one, 28 Jun (CTha); Old Winchester Hill NNR, two, field observation, 29 Jul (WLan); Hengistbury Head, three, 07 Jul (MJef); Lymington, one, 08 Jul (PRD);
VC12: Lord's Wood, Pamber Forest, one, 07 Jul (WLan); Pamber Forest, one, field observation, 30 Aug (GJD); Silchester Common, one, field observation, 17 Jun (GHaw); Pamber Forest, one, 10 Aug (GJD); Fleet Pond, one, 03 Aug (MHals)
72.069 [B&F: 2473] Beautiful Hook-tip Laspeyria flexula ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) - Local
Local in woodland, parks, scrub, hedgerows, orchards and gardens throughout much of southern England and southern Wales. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight widely distributed in woodland. Wingspan 27-34 mm. Differences in resting posture distinguish from the unrelated but superficially similar Scalloped Hook-tip Falcaria lacertinaria. Larva feeds on lichens growing on broad-leaved and coniferous trees.
Records prior to 2023
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 391 | 670 | 1951 | 2022 |
| 11 | 3043 | 3892 | 1881 | 2022 |
| 12 | 1638 | 2774 | 1951 | 2022 |
2023 records
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 110 | 142 | 7 |
| 12 | 55 | 74 | 7 |
Records by year
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)
Record Summary
VC11: Earliest: Blashford Lakes HIWWT NR, 23 Aug, 1 (PWhtk) Latest: Needs Ore NNR, 23 Jul, 1 (PCra) Max count: Needs Ore NNR, 10 Jun, 7 (CNB)
VC12: Earliest: Nether Wallop, 22 Jun, 1 (GCE) Latest: Farnborough, 15 Jun, 1 (KBW) Max count: Grayshott, 24 Jun, 7 (THard)
72.070 [B&F: 2495] Olive Crescent Trisateles emortualis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) - Nationally Scarce
A rare Red Data Book species, resident in a couple of localities in broad-leaved woodland and woodland clearings in southern England, and a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Historically records in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight have been regarded as relating to immigrants from the continent but the 21st century has seen regular reports (2014 saw seven on the Isle of Wight alone) and it is probably now established as a very localised resident across the two counties. Wingspan 29-30 mm. Its light-coloured fasciae separate it from all other British Erebidae (MBGBI Vol 10). Larva feeds on Pedunculate Oak, Sessile Oak and Beech, over-wintering as a pupa.
Records prior to 2023
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 35 | 97 | 1900 | 2022 |
| 11 | 63 | 97 | 1999 | 2022 |
| 12 | 9 | 9 | 2011 | 2022 |
2023 records
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Records by year
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)
Record Details
VC11: Botley Wood, one, female. , 09 Jun (F.M.G.); Waterlooville, one, 14 Jun; one, 07 Jul (DWhe);
VC12: Barton Stacey, one, 16 Sep (GCE)
72.074 [B&F: 2409a] Beautiful Marbled Eublemma purpurina ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) - Migrant
An increasingly common migrant from southern Europe, appearing in southern England for the first time in Dorset in 2001, but only identified from a set specimen during 2004, a year which saw an influx of some eight moths of this previously unrecorded species. In Hampshire the first was trapped at Cheriton Wood, vice-county 12, on 31 July 2004, and the second at Southsea, vice-county 11, on 16 August 2004 - these were the second and third British records. Subsequently recorded at Waterlooville on 6 August 2005 and at Beaulieu on 30 July 2006, both in vice-county 11. The Isle of Wight had to wait until 2018 for its first record, and since that year it has been recorded annually, sometimes multiple times, in both counties. Wingspan 26-30 mm. Some poorly marked specimens resemble f. carthami of Purple Marbled E. ostrina, however the postmedian fascia which bisects the purple distal half of the wing in Beautiful Marbled is absent in Purple Marbled. Larva feeds on Creeping Thistle, no evidence of breeding in the UK.
Records prior to 2023
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 12 | 12 | 2018 | 2022 |
| 11 | 10 | 10 | 2004 | 2022 |
| 12 | 8 | 9 | 2004 | 2021 |
2023 records
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
Records by year
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)
Record Details
VC11: Romsey*, one, 07 Sep (MJB); Allbrook*, one, 07 Sep (SIng); Portchester, one, 26 Sep (DH-J)