Photo © Ian Thirlwell

Hypatopa binotella

Checklist Number
41.006 [B&F: 0875b]

Verification
Record requires retention of specimen until confirmed, and may require dissection. Consult with CMR if unsure

Classification

Family:Blastobasidae
Subfamily:Blastobasinae
Genus:Hypatopa
Species:binotella
Authority:(Thunberg, 1794)

Suspected rare immigrant, or perhaps accidentally imported, this species was new to Britain when trapped at MV light by Brian Elliott at Micheldever Spoil Heaps HWT Reserve near Overton, Hampshire in 2006. Further searches for the moth have to date proved fruitless. It is present across the whole of the European mainland, where, according to the Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of Belgium, the larva lives on fallen needles of different species of pine trees, and the adults fly in one generation a year from late May towards mid August. The origin of the single British specimen is unknown - it would appear to be an unlikely candidate for vagrancy and as the site is alongside a railway line, human assistance would seem most likely. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 19-21 mm.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Micheldever (SU54)18/07/2006oneBrian ElliottAdult