For species seen in 2024 that had less than or equal to 100 records, full details are included; for more common species, the earliest, latest and highest count by vice-county are shown. The narrative for each species is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species. The tables in each species account summarise the previous status, and that for the current year.
For the maps, all records prior to 2024 are shown by a blue dot (the larger the dot, the more recent), with the current year's records shown in red. As previous records are superimposed on any report for 2024, new sites have greater emphasis (i.e. will show as 'more red').
In the species accounts, an asterisk next to a location indicates a new 10km square record; earliest ever dates are highlighted in orange, and latest ever in red. Initials in the species accounts refer to the recorders listed here. Please get in touch if you identify any omissions or errors, in particular if you have records that have yet to be submitted. Details of how to submit records can be found here.
Nationally scarce (Nb) on heathland, scrub and downland, discontinuously throughout England. In Hampshire formerly widespread, but there have been no recent records in vice-counties 11 or 12, although It does hang on at Martin Down, politically part of the county but actually in vice-county 8. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight since 1960. Wingspan male 34-40 mm, female 44-48 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on Hawthorn and Blackthorn, living gregariously within a silken web, and over-wintering as a pupa; the species' decline has been attributed to severe trimming of hedges during the larval season (MBGBI Vol 7 part 2).
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 14 | 1 | 1800 | 1960 |
| 11 | 12 | 6 | 1800 | 1950 |
| 12 | 3 | 1 | 1800 | 1995 |
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
|---|
Common in hedgerows, downland, fens, sand-dunes and sea cliffs throughout much of England and in Scotland, where f. callunae with a two-year cycle, predominates. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight common on the heaths of the New Forest, more rarely elsewhere in the county, especially along the coasts. Wingspan male 58-74 mm, female 72-90 mm. Unmistakable. Larva polyphagous on various deciduous trees and shrubs, including Oak, Birch, Bramble, Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Hazel and Sea Buckthorn.
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 211 | 269 | 1973 | 2023 |
| 11 | 1105 | 1297 | 1947 | 2023 |
| 12 | 56 | 58 | 1951 | 2023 |
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 11 | 32 | 41 | 10 |
| 12 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
VC10: Speedwell, Cranmore, NF, larva, one, field obs., 19 Jun (AMD); Whitwell Road, Ventnor, present, field obs., 11 May; two, field obs., 31 Jul (MGT); Shanklin, one, 17 Aug (IOu);
VC11: Avon Heath Country Park, two, 30 Jul (CDaw); Linford Bottom, 10, 05 Aug (CLew); Hale, Fordingbridge, one, field obs., 21 Jul (JOug); Broughton Down, larva, one, at dusk, on Wild Privet, 07 Apr (AMD); Pig Bush, NF, two, 24 Jul (NRJ); Lee, one, 09 Aug (CTha); North Baddesley, one, 10 Aug (RWPas); Fishlake Meadows, one, 12 Aug (NRJ); Romsey, present, field obs., , 11 Aug (iNat); Emer Bog NR, larva, one, field obs., 05 Oct (AMD); Ashley, one, 07 Aug (GCE); Yew Hill, Winchester, one, field obs., 16 Aug (AJB); Shawford Down, one, field obs., 13 Aug (AJB, LB); St Catherine's Hill NNR, Winchester, larva, one, field obs., 02 Jun (JAnd); Brownwich Cliffs, Titchfield, two, 16 Aug (F.M.G.); Funtley, two, 12 Aug (TDC); Fareham, one, 10 Aug; one, 11 Aug (ADT); larva, one, field obs., 06 Apr (PBarf); one, female, 11 Aug; one, 16 Aug (MLO); larva, one, field obs., 07 Apr (DTru); Curdridge, one, 12 Aug (CGree det. LLay); Dean, Bishop's Waltham, present, 12 Aug (CMor); Waterlooville, one, 09 Aug; one, field obs., 04 Aug (DWhe); Lovedean, one, 04 Aug (ARJa); Northney, Hayling Island, present, 18 Aug (JWP); South Holt Farm, NF, one, 30 Jul (CGree det. TMar); Hengistbury Head NNR, one, 06 Aug (HengistH det. MJef); Keyhaven, larva, one, field obs., 20 Jun (RWar); Southsea, present, field obs., 21 Aug (iNat);
VC12: Magdalen Hill Down NR, one, field obs., 03 Aug (ACB); one, field obs., 07 Aug (AJB); Morn Hill, Winchester, two, 17 Aug (CRB, PDF, DAS, LHur); Malshanger, nr Basingstoke, larva, one, field obs., 26 May (CLW); South Farnborough, one, field obs., 27 Jul (JKni)
Common on heathland, moorland, downland, damp meadows, sand-dunes and open woodland throughout much of the British Isles. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight still common on heaths and along the coast. Sometimes, as at Needs Ore in 1996, larvae occur in great profusion in autumn, though they evidently suffer considerable mortality during hibernation. Wingspan male 52-60 mm, female 58-78 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on Heather, Bilberry, Bramble, Meadowsweet and Salad Burnet.
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 139 | 263 | 1951 | 2023 |
| 11 | 827 | 839 | 1946 | 2023 |
| 12 | 259 | 395 | 1951 | 2023 |
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 36 | 22 | 1 |
| 12 | 8 | 7 | 1 |
VC10: Freshwater Bay, three, 23 Jun (PBard);
VC11: Brockwood, one, 24 May; one, 12 Jun; one, 21 Jun (SDut); Rockford Common, NF, larva, present, field obs., , 08 Sep; Appleslade Inclosure, NF, larva, present, field obs., , 28 Sep (iNat); Millersford Bottom, NF, larva, present, field obs., 23 Aug (IHayw); Markway Hill, NF, larva, one, dead, dead on track. , 09 Nov (PAB); Blackwater Arboretum, NF, larva, present, field obs., , 04 Sep (iNat); Ashley Bottom, NF, larva, present, field obs., , 17 Mar (AAleo); East Boldre, NF, larva, present, field obs., 21 Aug (HBea); Yew Tree Heath, NF, larva, one, field obs., 04 Oct; Marchwood, one, 14 May (TDCh); Dibden Inclosure, NF, larva, present, field obs., , 01 Apr (iNat); Dibden Purlieu, NF, one, 20 May; one, 23 May; Dibden Purlieu, one, 25 May; Dibden Purlieu, NF, one, 31 May; one, 01 Jun; one, 02 Jun; one, 17 Jun (RAC); Hythe, NF, larva, present, field obs., 17 Oct; larva, present, field obs., , 09 Aug (SWal); Hamble Common, larva, present, field obs., 02 Oct (ABalm); Yew Hill LNR, Winchester, larva, one, field obs., 07 Mar (FScu); Yew Hill NR, one, field obs., 15 May (AJB); Oliver's Battery, Winchester, larva, present, field obs., , 05 Aug; St Catherine's Hill, Winchester, larva, present, field obs., , 01 Oct (Unkn.); larva, present, field obs., 01 Oct (MCoo); Funtley, one, 26 May (TDC); Botley, one, 17 May (SLB); Butser Hill, larva, one, field obs., 05 May (NBur); Queen Elizabeth CP, larva, present, field obs., 13 Oct (iNat); Hengistbury Head NNR, one, 20 May (MJef); larva, one, field obs., 24 Sep (CWha); Keyhaven, larva, one, field obs., 03 Mar (PPir); Browndown, larva, one, field obs., 16 Apr (IPer);
VC12: Cholderton, one, 14 Jun (TJN); Chilbolton, larva, one, field obs., 11 Sep; Harewood Forest, one, 12 May (GCE); Pamber Heath, larva, one, field obs., 12 Oct (DFis); Ludshott Common, larva, one, field obs., 30 Jul (KBW); larva, one, field obs., 16 Oct (ATru); Hammer Vale, Woolmer, one, 19 May (ASwa); Farnborough, larva, present, field obs., 08 Oct (iNat)