72.009 [B&F: 2031] White Satin Moth Leucoma salicis (Linnaeus, 1758) - Local

Local in plantations, hedgerows, scrub, parks and gardens throughout England. Widespread and locally common in Hampshire, but recorded so far from the Isle of Wight only once this century. Wingspan 43-60 mm. Separated from other large, plain white moths by white abdomen, black and white ringed legs, and silky sheen. Larva feeds on Aspen, Poplar, Sallow and Willow.

Record Details

VC10: Freshwater Bay, present, 28 Jun (SDav); Freshwater, one, photo 72.009-10-26Jun24-1., 26 Jun (PBard); Ningwood Common, present, 11 Jul (HMak); Osborne Wood, one, 01 Jul (IOu);

VC11: Marchwood, one, 18 Jun; one, 25 Jun (CTha); Cromarty Pond area, Lord's Hill, one, 09 Jul (JClx); Romsey, one, 30 Jul; present, , 31 Jul (SRC); one, 18 Jul (MJB); Southampton, one, 23 Jul (MGP); Highbridge, Eastleigh, present, field obs., , 20 Jul (iNat); Lee-on-Solent, one, 24 Jun; two, 25 Jun (IHrg); Portchester, one, 24 Jun; one, 28 Jun (DH-J); Portsmouth, one, 20 Jun; two, 24 Jun; one, 26 Jun; one, 24 Jul; one, 30 Jul (IRT); Waterlooville, one, 28 Jun; one, 04 Jul; one, 10 Jul (DWhe); Petersfield, one, 18 Jul (CRoc); Hengistbury Head NNR, one, 04 Jul (BKin det. MJef);

VC12: Cheriton, one, 23 Jul (DAS); Bentley Station Meadow, four, 04 Jul (NDP, KBW)

72.010 [B&F: 2033] Black Arches Lymantria monacha (Linnaeus, 1758) - Local

Local in woodland, especially of oak throughout southern England and Wales, north to Cheshire; common and widespread in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Wingspan male 44-47 mm, female 48-54 mm. Normally unmistakable, but the infrequent f. eremita is entirely sooty grey with cross-lines obscured, and could be mistaken for male Gypsy Moth L. dispar. Larva feeds on Pedunculate and Sessile Oak, causing sufficient damage to be a serious pest in some areas, and over-wintering as an egg.

Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Shanklin, 02 Jun, 1 (IOu) Latest: Shanklin, 03 Sep, 11 (IOu) Max count: Osborne Wood, 28 Jul, 34 (IOu)

VC11: Earliest: Winter Down Copse, Little Somborne, 27 Jun, 1 (GCE) Latest: Marchwood, 16 Sep, 2 (TDCh) Max count: Waterlooville, 01 Aug, 37 (DWhe)

VC12: Earliest: St Giles Cemetery, Winchester, 29 Jun, 1 (PAB) Latest: Hatherden, 03 Sep, 2 (GCE) Max count: Great Haughurst Copse, Axmansford, 10 Aug, 27 (ACB)

72.011 [B&F: 2034] Gypsy Moth Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus, 1758) - Naturalised

Formerly frequent in the fens of East Anglia, this moth was presumed extinct in Britain in the early 1900s when breeding sites were cleared and drained. Occasional records, mainly from coastal southern England, since then have been regarded as immigrants. However, in the 21st century it has become temporarily established in a very few areas, these all thought to be accidental introductions by the horticultural trade. In Hampshire there has been a pattern of increased occurrence in the 21st Century, possibly related to radiation out from the introduced colonies in London, and breeding was first evidenced in 2019 when larval webs were discovered in Basingstoke. It is probably resident at low levels in urban areas across the county. Wingspan male 48-53 mm, female 59-65 mm. The male has prominent crescent-shaped black reniform mark and black orbicular spot; the female is superficially similar to female Black Arches - but the latter species is smaller with the female Gypsy Moth having a thickset and blunt abdomen - and cannot fly, rarely travelling far from the cocoon and thus any occurrence in Britain of a female moth is clear evidence of local breeding.

The extinct English race fed on Bog-myrtle (Myrica gale) and Creeping Willow (Salix repens). On mainland Europe occurs in a wide variety of habitats feeding on broadleaved trees and bushes.

Record Details

VC11: Marchwood, one, to pheromone lure, 19 Jul; one, to pheromone lure, 27 Jul (CTha); Eling, Totton, one, field obs., 31 Jul (PVil); Romsey, one, 10 Aug; present, , 11 Aug (SRC); Dibden Purlieu, NF, one, 15 Aug (RAC); Swaythling, Southampton, one, 09 Aug (MEdg); Eastleigh, one, field obs., 31 Jul (MSic); present, field obs., , 31 Jul (iNat); Allbrook, one, 10 Aug (SIng); Botley Wood, one, 05 Aug (AMD); Fareham, one, 19 Aug (ADT); one, 10 Aug; four, 11 Aug; one, 14 Aug; one, 17 Aug; one, 26 Aug (MLO); Botley, one, 13 Aug (SLB); Portchester, one, 11 Aug (DH-J); Waterlooville, one, 22 Aug (DWhe); Lovedean, one, 14 Aug (ARJa); Horndean, one, 17 Aug (PHog); Clanfield, larva, one, field obs., 06 Jul (MBer); Buriton, one, 01 Aug (FVes); Browndown, seven, 09 Aug (F.M.G.);

VC12: Testside Lakes, Leckford, two, 29 Aug; Leckford Estate, one, 02 Sep; Wherwell, one, 26 Aug; 21, 11 Aug; one, 11 Aug; two, 11 Aug; one, 11 Aug; one, 11 Aug; Chilbolton, five, 15 Aug; one, 31 Aug (GCE); Anna Valley, Andover, one, 10 Aug; three, 11 Aug; one, 27 Aug; one, 31 Aug (TJN); Wherwell, one, 21 Aug (GCE); Goodworth Clatford, one, 3 traps, 17 Aug (WLid, TJN, LFom det. TJN); Wherwell, one, 21 Aug (GCE); Chilbolton Common, present, field obs., , 31 May (BRos); Winchester, larva, one, field obs., 19 Jul (DJH); Wherwell, one, 27 Aug; one, 27 Aug; Testbourne Estate, Hurstbourne Priors, one, 30 Jul; Cole Henley, one, 10 Aug; one, 10 Aug (GCE); Ecchinswell, one, 28 Aug (MTay, CSul); North Waltham, one, 05 Aug; three, 10 Aug; three, 11 Aug; two, 25 Aug (AJon); Great Haughurst Copse, Axmansford, one, 10 Aug (ACB); Basingstoke: Down Grange Meadow, one, 13 Aug (BGD); one, 13 Aug (SRae); Basingstoke, present, 31 Jul; present, 06 Aug (SPym); one, 31 Jul; one, 02 Aug; three, 05 Aug; four, 09 Aug; 11, 11 Aug; three, 13 Aug; one, 25 Aug (MJW); South Ham, Basingstoke, one, field obs., 01 Sep (NEwa); Cranbourne, Basingstoke, pupa, present, field obs., , 12 Apr (BMil); Basingstoke: Crabtree Plantation, one, 19 Aug (SRae); Liss Forest, present, field obs., , 23 Aug (iNat); Alton, two, 11 Aug; three, 15 Aug; one, 18 Aug; three, 25 Aug (DBO); Windmill Hill, Chalton, one, 26 Aug; one, 27 Aug; one, 28 Aug (CJP); East Worldham, one, 02 Sep; larva, one, field obs., 02 Sep (RAng); Hammer Vale, Woolmer, one, 21 Aug; one, 25 Aug; one, 05 Sep (ASwa); Farnham, dead, present, indoors, 12 Aug; present, , 12 Aug (Bird); Weybourne, Aldershot, one, 31 Jul (PRaw); Church Crookham, larva, present, field obs., 18 Jul (iNat); Fleet Pond, egg, 200, field obs., egg batch on oak, 14 Feb (MHals); Farnborough, one, 09 Aug; one, 27 Aug (MThmp); larva, one, field obs., 16 Jun; one, 16 Aug (KBW);

72.012 [B&F: 2029] Brown-tail Euproctis chrysorrhoea (Linnaeus, 1758) - Local

Local in scrub, hedgerows, parks and gardens, along the coasts on England from Yorkshire to the Isles of Scilly. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight formerly confined to a few coastal localities, notably Hayling Island, this species has recently and suddenly greatly increased its range. Larval nests are now plentiful in winter along the coast, mainly on hawthorn, bramble and blackthorn, and it is extending its range inland. Wingspan male 36-42 mm, female 39-41 mm. Larva feeds on Bramble, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Dog-rose and Sallow, living gregariously within a silken web, causing sufficient damage to be a serious pest in some areas. The larval hairs are extremely irritating, causing rashes on exposed parts of the skin.

Record Details

VC10: Freshwater Bay, five, 10 Jul; 10, 12 Jul; 10, 01 Aug (SDav); Freshwater, two, 30 Jun (PBard); Parkhurst, three, 19 Jul (TJN, IMer, DCoo, LFom); Shanklin, one, 29 Jul; one, 01 Aug (IOu);

VC11: Marchwood, one, 24 Jul; one, 30 Jul (TDCh); Coxford, Southampton, one, field obs., 30 Jul (HSL); Romsey, one, 23 Jul (MJB); Dibden Purlieu, two, 18 Jul; one, 19 Jul; one, 21 Jul (RAC); Blackfield, larva, one, field obs., on Pyracantha sp. outside Tesco's. , 12 Jun; Blackfield, NF, larva, 10, field obs., single web on Crataegus monogyna in hedge. , 20 Sep (PGS); Blackfield, one, 16 Jul; one, 19 Jul; one, 29 Jul (SJJ); #REF!#REF!#REF!Brownwich Cliffs, Titchfield, one, 26 Jul (F.M.G.); Budds Farm, Havant, larva, one, field obs., 11 Jul (CMou); Lee-on-Solent, one, 26 Jun; one, 07 Jul; one, 08 Jul; two, 09 Jul (IHrg); Fareham, two, 17 Jul (IMcP); Botley, one, 11 Jul (SLB); Dean, Bishop's Waltham, present, 18 Jul (CMor); Portchester, one, 14 Jul (CEH, JGS); one, 18 Jul (DH-J); Portsmouth, one, 16 Jul (IRT); Horndean, one, 10 Jul (PHog); Petersfield Heath, Petersfield, larva, one, field obs., 16 Sep (RAll); Muscliffe, one, 17 Jul (CMur det. CMur,MLan); Hurn, one, 24 Jul (MJef); Christchurch: Cross Way, one, 11 Jul; one, 14 Jul; one, 17 Jul; one, 22 Jul; one, 25 Jul (LPyk); St Catherine's Hill, Hurn, larva, one, field obs., 14 Feb (SWes); Christchurch, six, 12 Jul; 15, 19 Jul; seven, 30 Jul (APard); Hengistbury, Bournemouth, larva, one, field obs., 21 May (SWes); Hengistbury Head NNR, one, 10 Jul; one, 13 Jul; one, 16 Jul (HengistH det. MJef); one, 22 Jul; two, 23 Jul (BKin det. MJef); one, 01 Aug; one, 06 Aug (HengistH det. MJef); two, 09 Aug (BKin det. MJef); one, 11 Aug (MoTay det. MJef); Hengistbury Head, two, 30 Jul (MJef); Stanpit Marsh LNR, two, males. , 27 Jul (PAB); Hengistbury Head, two, 18 Jul (MJef); New Milton, one, 29 Jun; one, 23 Jul; one, 27 Jul (RPH); Barton on Sea, larva, two, field obs., two larval webs, 22 Apr; Sway, one, 14 Jul; one, 21 Jul; two, 22 Jul; two, 23 Jul; one, 25 Jul; one, 30 Jul; two, 31 Jul; one, 01 Aug; one, 02 Aug; one, 04 Aug (SKee); Pennington Marshes, larva, four, field obs., on Prunus spinosa. , 01 Jun (PGS); Keyhaven Marshes, larva, present, field obs., on bramble. , 31 Mar (CRoc); Normandy, larva, 14, field obs., on Prunus spinosa and Rubus fruticosa agg , 01 Jun (PGS);

VC12: Middle Wallop, one, 29 Jul (TJN, RDon, GDon); Nether Wallop, three, 29 Jul; one, 29 Jul (GCE); Stockbridge, larva, present, field obs., 12 Apr (JOug); Wherwell, one, 22 Jul; one, 22 Jul; Chilbolton, one, 26 Jun; one, 25 Jul; Wonston, one, 26 Jul; Lower Wyke Farm, St Mary Bourne, one, 23 Jul; Longparish, one, 30 Jul; Testbourne Estate, Hurstbourne Priors, one, 30 Jul (GCE); North Waltham, one, 29 Jul (AJon); Basingstoke, two, 12 Jul; present, 13 Jul; present, 26 Jul (SPym); one, 27 Jul; one, 29 Jul (RHil); Whitehill, Bordon, one, 19 Jul; one, 02 Aug (ASto)

72.013 [B&F: 2030] Yellow-tail Euproctis similis (Fuessly, 1775) - Common

Common in hedgerows, woodland, scrub and gardens throughout England, increasingly also in Scotland. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan male 35-42 mm, female 37-45 mm. The main confusion species are Brown-tail E. chrysorrhoea, in which the underside of the abdomen is covered in brown hairs, and White Satin Leucoma salicis which lacks the yellow abdomen of E. similis and has legs ringed black and white. Larva feeds on Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Hazel, Pedunculate and Sessile Oak, Silver and Downy Birch, Sallow and Elm.

Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Newtown, 26 Jun, 1 (PBard) Latest: Shanklin, 17 Aug, 1 (IOu) Max count: Shanklin, 17 Jul, 2 (IOu)

VC11: Earliest: Bevois Valley, Southampton, 03 Feb, 1 (MCrei) Latest: Dean, Bishop's Waltham, 12 Aug, 0 (CMor) Max count: East Tytherley, 27 Jul, 11 (GCE)

VC12: Earliest: Rye Common, 24 May, 1 (AMD) Latest: Wherwell, 26 Aug, 1 (GCE) Max count: Upper Inhams Copse, Pamber Forest, 31 Jul, 18 (GJD)

72.015 [B&F: 2028] Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

Common in gardens, hedgerows, parks, woodland and scrub throughout England. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan male 48-51 mm, female 59-68 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on various broad-leaved trees and shrubs, including Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Crab Apple, Pedunculate and Sessile Oak, Silver and Downy Birch, Hazel, Lime and Elm, over-wintering as a pupa.

Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Bonchurch, 07 May, 1 (JHa) Latest: Shanklin, 26 Jun, 1 (IOu) Max count: Bonchurch, 19 Jun, 3 (JHa)

VC11: Earliest: Lee, 09 Apr, 1 (CTha) Latest: Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey, 24 Oct, 0 (iNat) Max count: East Tytherley, 09 May, 9 (GCE)

VC12: Earliest: Alton, 17 Mar, 1 (DBO) Latest: Wellesley Woods, 08 Oct, 1 (SuWri) Max count: Goodworth Clatford, 11 May, 10 (TJN)

72.017 [B&F: 2026] Vapourer Orgyia antiqua (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

Common in urban gardens and parks, open woodland, fens, hedgerows, heathland and moorland throughout the British Isles. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan male 35-38 mm, female wingless. Male day-flying, occasionally coming to light. The main confusion species is Scarce Vapourer O. recens, which differs in having a white subapical spot. Larva feeds on various broad-leaved trees and shrubs, including Birch, Hazel, Sallow, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Elm, Lime and Oak, over-wintering as an egg.

Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Shanklin, 28 Jul, 1 (IOu) Latest: Whitwell Road, Ventnor, 10 Nov, 1 (MGT) Max count: Whitwell Road, Ventnor, 02 Aug, 1 (MGT)

VC11: Earliest: Wildern LNR, Hedge End, 29 May, 1 (TCrw) Latest: Romsey, 28 Oct, 1 (NRJ) Max count: Bitterne, Southampton, 07 Aug, 400 (NBur)

VC12: Earliest: Whitchurch, 04 Jul, 0 (iNat) Latest: Morn Hill, Winchester, 31 Oct, 1 (CRB,DAS,PDF) Max count: Shipton Bellinger, 17 Aug, 6 (AJB, LB)