Hantsmoths

Found in dry open areas throughout much of England and western Scotland. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight very local and increasingly coastal in occurrence, albeit with several inland in 2004. Wingspan 27-36 mm. Similar to Lychnis Hadena bicruris which is larger, ground colour brown to dark brown, apex of forewing more obtuse, dorsal extremity of subterminal line parallel to termen; pale examples of Tawny Shears are superficially similar to Sand Dart Agrotis ripae, which is likely to occur in some of the same southern coastal localities, however Sand Dart has longer, narrower forewing and silky white hindwing, sometimes darkened along veins, but without a dark border (MBGBI Vol 9). Larva feeds on Bladder Campion, White Campion, Nottingham Catchfly, Sea Campion and Rock Sea-spurrey, over-wintering as a pupa.