Hantsmoths

Very rare immigrant from southern Europe, appearing on the south coast, recorded for the first time in Britain at Totteridge, Hertfordshire on 8 October 1967, with no further records until one was recorded in Hampshire, as shown here, in 202, however specific identification has not been confirmed as taxonomy is uncertain. Distinguishing between Caradrina flavirena and its congener C. noctivaga is problematic: there are characters on the male genitalia, but not in the female. This uncertainty may be extended to the identification of which species Lorimer originally caught (the specimen of which is believed to be in the BMNH). The two species have somewhat different distributions (possibly one being fairly southern in Europe) and there just maybe a difference in phenology.Wingspan 28-34 mm. Main confusion species is Pale Mottled Willow Paradrina clavipalpis in which forewing light grey rather than brown, reniform stigma usually edged distally with a buff lunular mark and subterminal fascia with buff spots between veins (MBGBI Vol 10). Larva feeds on various herbaceous plants; no evidence of breeding in the UK.

VC11 South Hampshire