2024 Annual Report for: Scythrididae / Scythridinae

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is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species.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.

43.004 [B&F: 0915] Scythris picaepennis (Haworth, 1828) - Nationally Scarce B

Nationally scarce (Nb) in grassy areas, dry sandy areas and calcareous grassland throughout much of the British Isles. In Hampshire local on the chalk between Broughton and Oxenbourne Down, with isolated records from West Park and Portsdown. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight since 1900. Wingspan 9-12 mm. Larva feeds on Common Bird's-foot Trefoil and Wild Thyme, living within a silken web.

Records prior to 2024

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1091319002022
11172219732019
126119712012

2024 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: High Down: Main Bench, four, field obs., 3m + 1f all Gen Det., 23 Jun; Brook Down, two, swept, gen Det., 25 Jun (PBard)

43.009 [B&F: 0917] Scythris empetrella Karsholt & Nielsen, 1976 - pRDB2

Vulnerable (proposed as a future Red Data Book species) and restricted in the UK to sandy heathland in Dorset and Hampshire. In Hampshire reliably recorded only from heathland near Lyndhurst. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 8-10 mm. Best found by slowly sweeping the hand over carpets of the foodplant (MBGBI Vol 4 part 1). Larva feeds on Heather, Bell Heather and Cross-leaved Heath, living within a silken tube.

Records prior to 2024

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
11104418342023

2024 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1183412

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: #REF!#REF!12, field obs., 23 Jun (NRJ); one, field obs., 29 Jun (AMD); Hengistbury Head, larval feeding signs, four, field obs., 29 May; two, field obs., in cop. , 26 Jun; seven, field obs., two pairs in cop. , 04 Jul (RPH)