2023 Annual Report for: Noctuidae / Eustrotiinae

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is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species.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.

73.024 [B&F: 2410] Marbled White Spot Protodeltote pygarga (Hufnagel, 1766) - Common

Common in woodland, heathland and moorland throughout much of southern England and northern Wales. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight fairly widespread and common. Wingspan 23-29 mm. Fairly unmistakable. Larva feeds on Purple Moor-grass, False-brome and Tufted Hair-grass, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2023

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1031165919292022
113450604819512022
121048178719512022

2023 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
117716419
12316912

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Summary

VC11: Earliest: Brockwood, 23 Jun, 1 (SDut) Latest: Needs Ore NNR, 02 Jul, 1 (PCra) Max count: Wickham, 23 Jun, 19 (F.M.G.)

VC12: Earliest: Littleton, 27 Jun, 1 (GCE) Latest: Farnborough, 07 Jul, 1 (MThmp) Max count: Fleet Pond, 27 Jun, 12 (MHals)

73.026 [B&F: 2412] Silver Hook Deltote uncula (Clerck, 1759) - Local

Local in fens, marshes, boggy heathland and high moorland, in England and Wales, except for the Midlands north of Oxfordshire, and in south-west Scotland and the western Highlands. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight an inhabitant of marshes and boggy heathland, which has decreased greatly since the 1950s. It is still found occasionally in localities scattered across vice-counties 11 and 12. Wingspan 27-30 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on various sedges and grasses, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2023

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
106219002014
11886118002022
12478719512020

2023 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
12221

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Details

VC12: Bransbury Common, one, 17 Jun (DAS); Whitehill, Bordon, one, field observation, 02 Jul (DMurr)

73.027 [B&F: 2413] Silver Barred Deltote bankiana (Fabricius, 1775) - Nationally Rare

A rare Red Data Book species, this species is a well established but localised resident in the Cambridgeshire fens and at a coastal marsh in south east Kent. Also a rare but regular continental immigrant to the south east and central south of England with, for example, ten records from eight sites in Essex since 1985, at Landguard in Suffolk in 1996 and in Norfolk. In Hampshire there have been two records of this attractive moth, both of which were considered migrants: the first in a Rothamsted trap in the New Forest in 1985, and the second not until twenty years later, at Lovedean. The first for the Isle of Wight was at Totland in June 2017. Wingspan 25-27 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on Purple Moor-grass and Smooth Meadow-grass, over-wintering as a pupa.

Update: Status review, December 2019.

Records prior to 2023

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
101120172017
112219852005

2023 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
12111

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Details

VC12: New Vice-county Record: Fleet Pond*, one, 10 Jun (MHals)