17.001 [B&F: 0451] Ypsolopha mucronella (Scopoli, 1763) - Local

Local in woodland on chalky soils throughout southern England. Fairly widely distributed across Hampshire, wherever the foodplant is found, but decidedly uncommon on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 26-33 mm. The distinctive attenuated resting posture is shared by a few other species of Ypsolopha, and most closely resembles Y. nemorella, which has a distinct dark spot on the forewing. Larva feeds on Spindle, beneath a silken web.

Record Details

VC11: Frogham, one, 30 Jan; one, 27 Feb; one, 20 Mar (NTO); Romsey, one, 09 Apr; one, 11 Apr (NRJ);

VC12: Wonston, one, 11 Apr; Cole Henley, one, 07 May (GCE); North Waltham, one, 25 Mar (AJon)

17.002 [B&F: 0452] Ypsolopha nemorella (Linnaeus, 1758) - Local

Local in woodland throughout the British Isles, except the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland; rare in Ireland (MBGBI Vol 3). In Hampshire and Isle of Wight widespread but usually uncommon in woodland, principally in the south of our region. Wingspan 21-24 mm. Larva feeds on Honeysuckle, beneath a silken web, over-wintering as an egg.

Record Details

VC11: Hengistbury Head, one, 18 Jul; one, 26 Jun; one, 03 Jun; one, 26 Jun; one, 26 Jun (MJef)

17.003 [B&F: 0453] Honeysuckle Moth Ypsolopha dentella (Fabricius, 1775) - Common

Common in woodland, hedgerows and gardens throughout the British Isles. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight present in small numbers in most ten-kilometre squares. Wingspan 20-22 mm. Unmistakable, with characteristic upturned wingtips. Larva feeds on Honeysuckle, beneath a silken web, over-wintering as an egg.

Record Details

VC10: Freshwater Bay, two, 29 Jun (PBard); Whitwell Road, Ventnor, one, 31 Jul (MGT);

VC11: Brockwood, one, 10 Aug (SDut); Howen Bottom, NF, one, 22 Jul (AMD); Marchwood, one, 11 Jul (CTha); Romsey, one, 31 Jul (NRJ); Swaythling, Southampton, one, 30 Jul (MEdg); Kites Croft Industrial Estate, Fareham, one, field obs., 29 Jul (DPH); Hurn, one, 31 Jul (MJef); Hengistbury Head NNR, two, 12 Jul (RPH); one, 14 Jul (BKin det. MJef); three, 11 Aug (MoTay det. MJef); Hengistbury Head, one, 18 Jul; one, 18 Jul; three, 26 Jun; one, 26 Jun; one, 26 Jun (MJef);

VC12: Middle Wallop, one, 29 Jul (TJN, RDon, GDon); Goodworth Clatford, six, 3 traps, 17 Aug (WLid, TJN, LFom det. TJN); one, 14 Jul (GCE); North Waltham, one, 11 Aug (AJon); Alton, one, 15 Aug (DBO)

17.005 [B&F: 0455] Ypsolopha scabrella (Linnaeus, 1761) - Common

Common in gardens and open woodland throughout England and Wales, but less numerous in the northern uplands. Fairly well distributed, with a southerly bias, in Hampshire, but recorded very infrequently on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 15-21 mm. Distinguished from all other Ypsolophinae by the three sets of raised scale tufts on the dorsal part of the forewing, but even when these have worn away, is still fairly unmistakable. Larva feeds on Hawthorn, Apple and Cotoneaster, beneath a silken web, over-wintering as an egg.

Record Details

VC10: Whitwell Road, Ventnor, one, 01 Sep (MGT);

VC11: Linford Bottom, three, 05 Aug (CLew); Romsey, one, 30 Jul (NRJ); Waterlooville, one, 28 Jul; two, 30 Jul; two, 11 Aug; one, 13 Aug (DWhe); Old Winchester Hill, one, 30 Aug (F.M.G.); Petersfield, one, 30 Jul (CRoc);

VC12: Cole Henley, one, 10 Aug (GCE); Ecchinswell, one, 20 Jul; one, 31 Jul (MTay, CSul); Morn Hill, Winchester, one, 17 Aug (CRB, PDF, DAS, LHur); Basingstoke, one, 31 Jul; one, 11 Aug (MJW); Oakridge, Basingstoke, present, 30 Jun (IFS); Inhams Copse, Pamber, one, 28 Aug (GJD); Alton, one, 14 Jul (DBO); Selborne, one, 26 Jul (CJP); Hammer Vale, Woolmer, one, 13 Aug; one, 17 Aug (ASwa); Farnborough, one, 30 Jul (KBW);

17.008 [B&F: 0458] Ypsolopha alpella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) - Local

Local in oak woodland throughout much of southern England and southern Wales, north to Yorkshire. Fairly frequent in south Hampshire, but uncommon in north Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 14-18 mm. The main confusion species are Y. lucella, from which Y. alpella can be distinguished by the thorax being concolorous with the base of the forewing, and by the presence of fasciae, although on worn specimens these can be inconspicuous; and Y. sylvella from which Y. alpella can be distinguished by its smaller and less conspicuous fasciae, and by the paler ground colour of its forewing (MBGBI Vol 3). Larva feeds on Oak, beneath a silken web, over-wintering as an egg.

Record Details

VC11: Linford Bottom, one, 05 Aug (CLew); Marchwood, one, 11 Aug (CTha); Romsey, one, 31 Jul; one, 31 Aug (NRJ); Allbrook, one, 02 Sep (SIng); Botley Wood, one, 05 Aug (AMD); Waterlooville, one, 07 Aug (DWhe); Sway, one, 12 Aug (SKee);

17.010 [B&F: 0460] Ypsolopha parenthesella (Linnaeus, 1761) - Common

Common in woodland throughout much of the British Isles, except the Outer Hebrides and Shetland. Common and widespread in Hampshire, though Isle of Wight records remain sparse. Wingspan 15-19 mm. Unicolorous forms can be distinguished from similar forms of Y. ustella

Record Details

VC10: Shanklin, one, 29 Jun; one, 17 Aug; four, 01 Sep; one, 02 Sep; three, 03 Sep; one, 17 Sep; one, 20 Sep (IOu);

VC11: Blashford Lakes HIWWT NR, two, 07 Sep (PWhtk); Romsey, one, 26 Aug; one, 09 Sep (NRJ); Winter Down Copse, Little Somborne, one, 27 Jun (GCE); Hengistbury Head, one, 27 Aug; one, 27 Aug (MJef);

VC12: Inhams Copse, Pamber, one, 12 Aug; two, 28 Aug; four, 01 Sep; one, 18 Sep (GJD); Hammer Vale, Woolmer, one, 03 Sep (ASwa)

17.011 [B&F: 0461] Ypsolopha ustella (Clerck, 1759) - Common

Common in oak woodland and areas with scattered oaks throughout the British Isles. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 15-20 mm. Very variable, plain forms can be confused with plain forms of Y. parenthesella. Larva feeds on Oak leaves, beneath a silken web.

Record Details

VC10: Bonchurch, one, 23 Jan; one, 14 Feb; one, 15 Feb; one, 30 Apr; one, 12 May (JHa); Shanklin, two, 10 Feb; one, 18 Feb; two, 05 Apr (IOu);

VC11: Frogham, one, 10 Feb; one, 18 Feb (NTO); Marchwood, one, 10 Nov (CTha); Romsey, one, 11 Apr; one, 24 Jun (MJB); one, 02 Feb; two, 03 Feb; five, 04 Feb; one, 10 Feb; five, 13 Feb; one, 21 Mar; one, 18 Oct (NRJ); Dibden Purlieu, NF, one, 02 Feb; Dibden Purlieu, one, 15 Feb; one, 16 Feb (RAC); Allbrook, one, 03 Feb (SIng); Botley Wood, five, 16 Feb; three, 15 Mar (F.M.G.); Stubbington, one, indoors, 20 Jun (DPH); Funtley, two, 14 Feb; one, 06 Nov (TDC); Fareham, one, 02 Jul (ADT); one, 29 Jan; one, 29 Jun (MLO); Waterlooville, one, 05 Jan; one, 24 Jan; five, 29 Jan; six, 31 Jan; three, 02 Feb; three, 09 Feb; two, 12 Feb; 10, 14 Feb; seven, 16 Feb; three, 18 Feb; four, 20 Feb; one, 28 Feb; one, 11 Mar; one, 17 Mar; one, 29 Mar; one, 30 Jun; one, 10 Jul; one, 23 Oct; one, 28 Oct; one, 24 Nov; one, 26 Nov; two, 29 Nov; one, 30 Nov (DWhe); West Walk, one, 05 Jan; three, 02 Feb; one, 08 Mar (F.M.G.); Stroud, Petersfield, two, 15 Feb (RAll); Merritown Heath, one, 29 Jun (DFoo); Christchurch: Cross Way, two, 02 Feb; one, 10 Nov (LPyk); Hengistbury Head, one, 05 Apr; Hengistbury Head NNR, one, 05 Nov (MJef); New Milton, one, field obs., 21 Jun; Sway, one, 15 Feb; one, 05 Apr; one, 24 Oct; two, 02 Nov; one, 07 Nov (SKee);

VC12: North Waltham, one, 08 Sep (AJon); Basingstoke: Down Grange Meadow, one, 13 Aug (BGD); Basingstoke, one, 15 Feb (MJW); Pamber Forest, two, 15 Oct (GJD); Whitehill, Bordon, one, 24 Jan; one, 28 Jan; one, 02 Feb; one, 03 Feb; two, 09 Feb; one, 14 Feb; two, 15 Feb; one, 09 Mar; one, 11 Mar; two, 17 Mar (ASto); Hammer Vale, Woolmer, one, 29 Jan; one, 02 Feb; one, 04 Oct (ASwa); Fleet, one, 14 Feb; one, 17 Feb (MHals); Farnborough, one, 15 Feb (KBW)

Basingstoke
15/02/2024
to actinic
Mike Wall
Photo © Mike Wall

17.012 [B&F: 0462] Ypsolopha sequella (Clerck, 1759) - Common

Common in woodland and urban areas, especially where Field Maple is planted, throughout England and Wales. Fairly widely distributed across Hampshire, but usually no more than about a dozen records annually, and decidedly uncommon on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 17-20 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on the foliage of Field Maple, living beneath a silken web.

Record Details

VC10: West High Down quarries, one, 17 Sep; Shanklin, one, 20 Sep (IOu);

VC11: Lee, one, 31 Aug (CTha); Dibden Purlieu, one, 17 Aug; Dibden Purlieu, NF, one, 08 Sep (RAC); Swaythling, Southampton, one, 30 Jul (MEdg); Allbrook, one, 08 Sep (SIng); Winchester, one, first record of the year., 05 Oct (THW); Fareham, one, 27 Aug (MLO); Dean, Bishop's Waltham, present, 12 Aug (CMor); Waterlooville, one, 15 Sep; one, 24 Sep; one, 26 Sep (DWhe); Hurn, one, 11 Aug (MJef);

VC12: Chilbolton, one, 02 Jul (GCE); Anna Valley, Andover, one, 05 Oct (TJN); Morn Hill, Winchester, one, 18 Sep (CRB,PDF,DAS,CJP); Alton, one, 03 Jul (DBO); Chawton, one, 05 Sep (DAS); East Worldham, present, field obs., , 08 Sep (EPil); one, field obs., 08 Sep (RAng); Hammer Vale, Woolmer, one, 19 Aug (ASwa)