2020 Annual Report for: Hepialidae / Hepialinae

For species seen in 2020 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is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species.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 2020 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 2020, 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.

03.001 [B&F: 0015] Orange Swift Triodia sylvina (Linnaeus, 1761) - Common

Common in gardens, woodland and rough grassland, and on roadside verges, downland and moorland throughout Britain, including the Isles of Scilly, but excluding the Northern Isles. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight common in woodland wherever bracken grows. Wingspan male 32-39 mm, female 36-48 mm. Male brighter than female, but both distinguished from their congeners by the open dark-edged V-shaped diagonal lines on forewing. Larva feeds within roots of Broad-leaved Dock, Dandelion, Bracken and various grasses, over-wintering twice.

Records prior to 2020

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1017021618492019
112185318319512019
121291298019512019

2020 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1023374
111673128
129114911

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Totland, 20 Sep, 1 (RTe) Latest: Wootton, 11 Aug, 1 (KShw) Max count: Rookley, 28 Aug, 4 (JBa)

VC11: Earliest: Brockwood, 22 Aug, 1 (SDut) Latest: Norleywood, NF, 09 Aug, 0 (RBW, MWa) Max count: Botley, 21 Aug, 8 (SLB)

VC12: Earliest: Cholderton, 08 Aug, 2 (TJN, HE) Latest: Yateley, 08 Aug, 1 (JHH) Max count: Goodworth Clatford, 16 Aug, 11 (GCE)

03.002 [B&F: 0017] Common Swift Korscheltellus lupulina (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

Common in grassland, woodland rides and gardens, and on roadside verges, moorland and heathland throughout most of the British Isles, but local in Scotland and mainly coastal in Ireland. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight generally widespread and common, often abundant. Wingspan male 25-33 mm, female 32-40 mm. Variable, often fairly plainly marked, especially the females. Larva feeds on the roots of grasses and a wide range of wild and cultivated plants, and is often a pest.

Records prior to 2020

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10540186418492019
112562577719512019
121237432419512019

2020 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10401009
1167938
128651159

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Cranmore, 04 May, 0 (CHic) Latest: Sandown, 27 May, 1 (JMar) Max count: Shanklin, 01 Jun, 9 (IOu)

VC11: Earliest: Woodlands, New Forest, 19 May, 0 (RBW) Latest: Milford on Sea, 19 Jun, 1 (MMcM) Max count: Kings Somborne, 11 Jun, 8 (GCE)

VC12: Earliest: Broughton, 29 May, 2 (GCE) Latest: Yateley, 09 Jun, 1 (JHH) Max count: Longstock, 29 May, 59 (GCE)

03.003 [B&F: 0018] Map-winged Swift Korscheltellus fusconebulosa (De Geer, 1778) - Local

Local on moorland and heathland, and in open woodland and rough pastures throughout much of the British Isles. In Hampshire very local amongst Bracken, with strongholds in Crab Wood in vice-county 11 and Pamber Forest in vice-county 12; ). On the Isle of Wight, one on Luccombe Down in 2015 was the first record since the start of the 20th century.

Wingspan 32-50 mm. Distinguished from its congeners by the conspicuously barred cilia of fore- and hindwing (MBGBI Vol 1). Larva feeds within roots of Bracken, over-wintering twice, also found in areas where Bracken does not occur, where the foodplant may be Red Fescue.

Records prior to 2020

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
105218552018
11345419512016
1210723819512019

2020 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10111
116125
12352

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Details

VC10: Shanklin, one, 09 Jun (IOu);

VC11: Stanbrige Earls, one, to actinic, 07 May (JRMi); Kings Somborne, one, to actinic, 11 Jun; five, to actinic, 11 Jun; three, to actinic, 11 Jun; one, to actinic, 21 May (GCE);

VC12: Harewood Forest, one, to actinic, 23 May; two, to actinic, 23 May; two, to actinic, 23 May (GCE)

03.004 [B&F: 0016] Gold Swift Phymatopus hecta (Linnaeus, 1758) - Local

Local in grassland throughout most of the British Isles. In Hampshire locally common wherever there is bracken, rather uncommon on the Isle of Wight. The males sometimes swarm just before dusk over grassy places adjacent to stands of foodplant. Wingspan male 26-30 mm, female 28-32 mm. The golden markings on forewing of male are diagnostic; in particular, the diagonal, sometimes broken band near base runs roughly parallel to outer markings, unlike other swift moths (MBGBI Vol 1). Larva feeds within roots of Bracken, over-wintering twice.

Records prior to 2020

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
106319722010
1120723519512019
1212415719402019

2020 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
11441
12221

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: Dibden Purlieu, one, to actinic, 18 Aug (RAC);

VC12: Pamber Forest, one, 17 Jun (GJD); Liss, one, 25 Jun (LBe)

03.005 [B&F: 0014] Ghost Moth Hepialus humuli (Linnaeus, 1758) - Local

Common in rough meadows and grassland throughout much of Britain and Ireland, but excluding the Isles of Scilly, a species of conservation concern under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Widespread in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight but local and declining. The males have leks in grassy places on downland and in meadows where they fly in numbers at dusk, and the females wander, presumably on egg-laying missions, and come occasionally to light. Wingspan male 44-46 mm, female 46-48 mm. Unmistakable. The larva is polyphagous in the root systems of many grasses and herbaceous plants such as Stinging Nettle and Hop, over-wintering twice.

Records prior to 2020

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1012412919082019
1182481419462019
124194632002019

2020 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10221
1114131
12331

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Details

VC10: Borthwood Copse, Winford, one, at dusk, 23 Jun; Shanklin, one, 15 Jun (IOu);

VC11: Woodlands, New Forest, present, 01 Jun (RBW); Ashley, one, to actinic, 23 Jun; Kings Somborne, one, to actinic, 11 Jun (GCE); Allbrook, one, 15 Jun; one, 07 Jul (SI); Ashley, one, to actinic, 15 Jul (GCE); Botley, one, to actinic, 30 Jun; one, to actinic, 25 Jun; one, to actinic, 16 Jul (SLB); Wickham, one, 19 Jun (JRDS); Lovedean, one, 07 Jun; one, 16 Jun (ARJ);

VC12: Barton Stacey, one, to actinic, 16 Jul (GCE); Pamber Forest, one, 13 Jul (GJD)