2023 Annual Report for: Lasiocampidae / Lasiocampinae
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is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species.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.
66.005 [B&F: 1633] Small Eggar Eriogaster lanestris (Linnaeus, 1758) - Nb
Nationally scarce (Nb) on heathland, scrub and downland, discontinuously throughout England. In Hampshire formerly widespread, but there have been no recent records in vice-counties 11 or 12, although It does hang on at Martin Down, politically part of the county but actually in vice-county 8. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight since 1960. Wingspan male 34-40 mm, female 44-48 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on Hawthorn and Blackthorn, living gregariously within a silken web, and over-wintering as a pupa; the species' decline has been attributed to severe trimming of hedges during the larval season (MBGBI Vol 7 part 2).
Records prior to 2023
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 14 | 1 | 1800 | 1960 |
| 11 | 12 | 6 | 1800 | 1950 |
| 12 | 3 | 1 | 1800 | 1995 |
2023 records
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
|---|
Records by year
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)
Record Details
66.007 [B&F: 1637] Oak Eggar Lasiocampa quercus (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common
Common in hedgerows, downland, fens, sand-dunes and sea cliffs throughout much of England and in Scotland, where f. callunae with a two-year cycle, predominates. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight common on the heaths of the New Forest, more rarely elsewhere in the county, especially along the coasts. Wingspan male 58-74 mm, female 72-90 mm. Unmistakable. Larva polyphagous on various deciduous trees and shrubs, including Oak, Birch, Bramble, Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Hazel and Sea Buckthorn.
Records prior to 2023
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 209 | 267 | 1973 | 2022 |
| 11 | 1066 | 1266 | 1947 | 2022 |
| 12 | 49 | 51 | 1951 | 2022 |
2023 records
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 28 | 33 | 5 |
| 12 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
Records by year
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)
Record Details
VC11: Matley Bog, NF, three, field observation, 10 Jul (HVau); Ashurst, NF, larva, one, field observation, 25 Feb (JOug); Romsey, one, 27 Jul (NRJ); Eastleigh, one, field observation, 13 Aug (PAB); Chandler's Ford, two, 15 Aug (KArb); Allbrook, one, 04 Aug (SIng); Highbridge, Eastleigh, two, 19 Aug (SIng, PPir); one, 05 Sep (SIng); Fareham, one, 11 Aug; one, 12 Aug (ADT); larva, one, field observation, 16 Sep (PBarf); one, 10 Aug; one, 16 Aug (MLO); Pigeon House Coppice, Boarhunt, two, 11 Aug; Horsea Island, one, 04 Aug (F.M.G.); Portsea, Portsmouth, present, field observation, 11 Aug (iNat); Portsmouth, one, 10 Aug; one, 16 Aug (IRT); Waterlooville, one, 09 Aug (DWhe); Butser Hill, larva, present, field observation, 29 May (EJon); one, field observation, 29 Jul (AMD); Hengistbury Head, one, 16 Aug; one, 09 Aug; one, 10 Aug (MJef); Mudeford, Christchurch, larva, five, field observation, 02 Oct (BFee); Thorney Hill, Bransgore, NF, larva, present, field observation, 13 May (iNat); Needs Ore NNR, one, 09 Aug (CNB);
VC12: Shipton Bellinger, one, field observation, 10 Aug; one, field observation, 10 Aug (AJB); Newton Stacey, one, 16 Aug (GCE); Noar Hill HIWWT NR, Selborne, larva, one, field observation, on Buckthorn, 23 Sep (AMD); Ludshott Common, one, 02 Aug (NDP, KBW det. KBW); Yateley Common, larva, one, field observation, 25 Mar (BGD)
66.008 [B&F: 1638] Fox Moth Macrothylacia rubi (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common
Common on heathland, moorland, downland, damp meadows, sand-dunes and open woodland throughout much of the British Isles. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight still common on heaths and along the coast. Sometimes, as at Needs Ore in 1996, larvae occur in great profusion in autumn, though they evidently suffer considerable mortality during hibernation. Wingspan male 52-60 mm, female 58-78 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on Heather, Bilberry, Bramble, Meadowsweet and Salad Burnet.
Records prior to 2023
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 138 | 256 | 1951 | 2022 |
| 11 | 800 | 799 | 1946 | 2022 |
| 12 | 245 | 372 | 1951 | 2022 |
2023 records
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 26 | 38 | 8 |
| 12 | 14 | 23 | 6 |
Records by year
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)
Record Details
VC11: Bisterne, larva, present, field observation, 30 Aug (iNat); Frogham, one, indoors, 13 Jun (NTO); Ogden's Purlieu, NF, two, 17 Jun (AMD); Linwood, larva, one, field observation, 12 Feb (JOug); Hale Purlieu, NF, larva, one, field observation, 22 Aug (JPuz); Church Moor, NF, larva, one, field observation, 30 Apr (STho); Crab Tree Earth, NF, larva, one, field observation, 10 Jul (NAdd); Fritham, NF, larva, two, field observation, 04 Oct; larva, eight, field observation, 09 Oct; larva, two, field observation, 10 Oct (JPuz); larva, present, field observation, 23 Sep (SiDav); Ocknell Plain, NF, larva, present, field observation, 11 Oct (iNat); Withybed Bottom, NF, larva, one, field observation, 25 Sep (IRal); Stubby Copse Inclosure, NF, larva, one, field observation, 07 Oct (IWil); Matley Passage, NF, larva, present, field observation, 10 Sep (JPM); Beaulieu Road Station, NF, larva, present, field observation, 15 Aug (Unkn.); Pig Bush, NF, eight, 01 Jun (NRJ); Yew Tree Heath, NF, larva, three, field observation, 23 Aug; Marchwood, one, female, 11 Jun (TDCh); Marchwood Inclosure, NF, larva, present, field observation, 29 Jun (JHol); Dibden Purlieu, NF, one, 27 May; one, 28 May; one, 30 May; one, 02 Jun; one, 04 Jun (RAC); Oxenbourne Down, larva, present, field observation, 13 Sep (iNat);
VC12: Nether Wallop, larva, present, field observation, 30 Sep (iNat); Danebury Hill, larva, four, field observation, 21 Sep (MHib); larva, present, field observation, 06 Aug (iNat); Pamber Heath, three, 10 Jun (WLan); Lord's Wood, Pamber Forest, five, 10 Jun (MBot); Noar Hill HIWWT NR, Selborne, one, 09 Jun (AMD, FHay det. AMD); Shortheath Common, Oakhanger, larva, present, field observation, 02 May (iNat); Blacknest, Binstead, one, field observation, 09 Jun (MAng); Broxhead Common, larva, one, field observation, 25 Sep (KBW); Woolmer Forest, larva, one, field observation, 12 Sep (IRal); Farnham, present, field observation, 04 Jun (iNat); present, 23 May (Bird); Fleet Pond, six, 10 Jun (MHals)