Hantsmoths

Suspected rare immigrant, or perhaps accidentally imported, from southern Europe. Recorded on fewer than ten occasions, first recorded in July 1976 in a garden in Enfield, Middlesex. In Hampshire there is a single record, from Winchester, in August 1989. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 10-17 mm. The plumbeous suffusion of the ground colour, forming a subquadrate patch medio-dorsally and bordering the outer edge of the median fascia costally and enclosing the tornal marking, is characteristic [Bradley]. Larva feeds within fruit of various shrubs and climbing plants, including Traveller'-joy, Ivy, Honeysuckle and Grape-vine, living between fruit spun together with silk, causing sufficient damage to be a serious pest on grape vines in some areas.

VC11 South Hampshire