73.052 [B&F: 2216] Shark Cucullia umbratica (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

Common in rough ground, chalk and limestone grassland, sand-dunes, shingle beaches and gardens throughout the British Isles. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight this species is still fairly frequent in places, especially near the coast. Wingspan 48-57 mm. The only confusion species is Chamomile Shark C. chamomillae, but C. umbratica has forewing fringes clear and unmarked, while on C. chamomillae they are cut by dark veins. Larva feeds on flowers and leaves of Beaked, Marsh, Rough and Smooth Hawk's-beard, Mouse-ear Hawkweed and Perennial Sow-thistle, over-wintering as a pupa.

Record Details

VC10: Freshwater Bay, one, 01 Jul; Compton Down, one, 30 Jun (PBard); Whitwell Road, Ventnor, one, 29 Jun (MGT);

VC11: Fareham, one, 10 Aug (ADT); Dean, Bishop's Waltham, present, 25 Jun; present, 29 Jun (CMor); Hengistbury Head, three, 26 Jun (RPH det. MJef); Hengistbury Head NNR, one, 02 Jul (BKin det. MJef); Sway, one, 30 May; one, 06 Jun; one, 18 Jun (SKee); Sinah Common, larva, one, at dusk, 23 Jul (AMD);

VC12: Magdalen Hill Down NR, one, 23 Jun (AMD); Morn Hill, Winchester, one, 18 Jun (CRB,DAS,LHur,PDF); Overton, one, 18 Jun (FTu); Oakridge, Basingstoke, one, 09 Jun (IFS); Alton, one, 25 Jun (DBO); East Worldham, present, , 23 Jun (EPil); one, 23 Jun (RAng); Whitehill, Bordon, one, 25 Jun (ASto); Farnborough, one, 10 Jun; one, 23 Jun (KBW)

73.053 [B&F: 2214] Chamomile Shark Cucullia chamomillae ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) - Local

Local on calcareous grassland, waste ground, farmland and gardens; well distributed, showing a preference for sandy or light calcareous soils, and probably most common near the coasts, in England and Wales, Scotland to Perthshire, and Ireland (MBGBI Vol 10). In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight thinly scattered through the three vice-counties, but scarcer than formerly, probably on account of changed agricultural techniques. Wingspan 42-52 mm. The most likely confusion species is Shark Cucullia umbratica, which see for differences. Larva feeds on flowers of Scentless Mayweed, Corn Chamomile, Stinking Chamomile and Feverfew, over-wintering as a pupa.

Record Details

VC11: Rownhams, Southampton, larva, one, field obs., 28 Jun (PDW); Lee-on-Solent, one, 02 May (IHrg det. MJW)

73.057 [B&F: 2219] Striped Lychnis Cucullia lychnitis Rambur, 1833 - Nationally Scarce

Nationally scarce (Na) and a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, on calcareous grassland and roadside verges. Found throughout much of the chalk outcrop of central Hampshire, extending from the South Downs of West Sussex virtually to the border with Wiltshire. It is also breeding in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and in small scattered sites over a wide area in south Buckinghamshire. Hampshire is an important national stronghold for the species, and in 2000 the moth was discovered to have colonised the recently re-seeded extension of the Magdalen Hill Down Reserve near Winchester. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 42-46 mm. The most likely confusion species are Mullein S. verbasci, which is usually larger and brown-tinged, with a clearly defined discal spot on the underside of the hindwing, whereas Striped Lychnis is grey-tinged and does not hindwing underside dot, and Water Betony S. scrophulariae, from which reliably separable only by reference to the genitalia. Larva feeds on flowers of Dark Mullein, over-wintering as a pupa.

Record Details

VC11: Dundridge, larva, six, field obs., on Dark Mullein - Verbascum nigrum, on only one of five plants. , 17 Jul (DTru); Chilcomb, larva, 25, field obs., 31 Jul (FScu); Horndean, one, 21 Jun; one, 16 Jul (PHog);

VC12: Over Wallop, larva, six, field obs., on dark mullein . , 14 Aug (SDuf); Chilbolton, larva, one, field obs., 13 Aug (GCE); St Giles Cemetery, Winchester, larva, 15, field obs., 02 Aug; St Giles Hill, Winchester, larva, 24, field obs., 02 Aug (DSte det. DJS); Chilcomb, larva, 81, field obs., 21 Jul (AMD); Magdalen Hill Down NNR, larva, five, field obs., 31 Jul (FScu); Windmill Hill, Chalton, one, 10 Jul; Selborne, larva, present, field obs., on dark mullein . , 25 Jul (CJP)

73.058 [B&F: 2221] Mullein Cucullia verbasci (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

Common in calcareous grassland, woodland clearings, woodland rides, scrub, roadside verges, shingle beaches, parks and gardens throughout much of England and Wales, mostly in the south. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight well-distributed, partly as a result of the differing ecology of the two main food-plants. Wingspan 44-56 mm. The main confusion species are Striped Lychnis S. lychnitis and Water Betony S. scrophulariae. The larva is found on various species of mullein (Verbascum), in particular Great Mullein, but it also uses Buddleia in gardens, and not infrequently on figwort (Scrophularia sp.)

Record Details

VC10: Freshwater Bay, one, 08 May (SDav); Reeth Bay, Niton, larva, two, field obs., 19 Jun (AMD); Ventnor, larva, one, field obs., on Verbascum., 24 Jun (PBard); larva, six, field obs., 20 Jun (IOu); Bonchurch, one, 12 Apr; five, 22 Apr; one, 07 May; one, 22 May (JHa); Shanklin, one, 11 Apr (IOu);

VC11: Black Knowl, Brockenhurst, NF, larva, present, field obs., , 23 Jun (iNat); East Tytherley, one, photograph taken., 09 May (GCE); Shirley, Southampton, larva, present, field obs., , 11 Jul (HWhe); Mottisfont Abbey NT, nr Romsey, present, 03 May (TSto); Romsey, one, 07 Apr (MJB); Hillier Arboretum, larva, three, field obs., on Verbascum leaves., 01 Jun (AJB); Blackfield, larva, one, field obs., feeding on Great Mullein, 22 Jun (SJJ); Swaythling, Southampton, one, 07 Apr (MEdg); Bitterne, Southampton, larva, present, field obs., 03 Jun (NBur); Fareham, one, 18 Apr (ADT); Victoria Park, Portsmouth, present, field obs., 29 May (KVin); Lovedean, one, 08 May (ARJa); Northney, Hayling Island, present, 06 May; present, 06 May (JWP); Horndean, one, 01 Apr; one, 12 Apr; one, 03 May (PHog); Christchurch: Cross Way, one, 12 Apr (LPyk); Christchurch, one, field obs., 07 Apr (NBro); Burton, Christchurch, larva, present, field obs., , 13 Jun (iNat); Hengistbury Head NNR, one, 17 Apr (RPH); Sway, one, conf MJW; very early, 30 Mar; one, 07 Apr; one, 12 Apr; one, 09 May (SKee);

VC12: Chilbolton, one, photograph taken., 08 May; larva, six, field obs., 03 Jun (GCE); Magdalen Hill Down NR, larva, 12, field obs., 12 Jun (AMD); North Waltham, one, 24 May (AJon); Great Haughurst Copse, Axmansford, larva, six, field obs., 28 May (ACB); Cliddesden, Basingstoke, larva, one, field obs., 20 Jul (AMos); Kempshott, Basingstoke, larva, present, field obs., , 29 May; Oakridge, Basingstoke, larva, present, field obs., , 02 Jun (iNat); Alton, one, 07 May (DBO); Chawton House, Alton, larva, present, field obs., , 27 May (iNat); Windmill Hill, Chalton, one, 01 May (CJP); Whitehill, Bordon, one, 18 Apr (ASto); Farnham, larva, present, , 03 Jun (iNat); Farnborough, one, 05 May (KBW)