2020 Annual Report for: Lasiocampidae / Lasiocampinae

For species seen in 2020 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is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species.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 2020 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 2020, 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.

66.005 [B&F: 1633] Small Eggar Eriogaster lanestris (Linnaeus, 1758) - Nb

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).

Records prior to 2020

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1014118001960
1112618001950
123118001995

2020 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC12: Martin Down NNR, larva, present, field observation, at least one occupied web located, 01 Jun (MDu)

66.007 [B&F: 1637] Oak Eggar Lasiocampa quercus (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

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.

Records prior to 2020

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1015819319732019
11911111319472019
12342619512018

2020 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1014337
1143374
12562

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: West High Down Quarry, four, 07 Aug (IOu); Fort Victoria CP, one, field observation, 09 Aug (CSmi det. JBa); Freshwater Cliffs, one, 09 Aug (SDa); Cranmore, present, to actinic, 09 Aug (CHic); St Boniface Down, Ventnor, one, field observation, 31 Jul (IRid); Wheelers Bay, one, ♀, 01 Aug; three, 06 Aug (ABu); Haseley Manor, seven, 11 Aug; Shanklin, two, 07 Aug; five, 08 Aug; three, 09 Aug; Bembridge Fort, three, ♂, 2♀, 06 Aug (IOu);

VC11: Brockwood, one, 07 Aug (SDut); Furze Hill, NF, present, 19 Jul; Ditchend Brook, Newfoundland, NF, present, 30 Jul (RBW, MWa); Furze Hill, NF, one, 20 Jul (RBW); Coopers Hill, NF, larva, one, field observation, 15 Jun (GBu); Beaulieu Heath, NF, larva, present, field observation, 10 Jun (iNat); Pig Bush, NF, one, 17 Jul (CL); Beaulieu Heath, NF, present, field observation, 09 Aug (iNat); Woodlands, New Forest, larva, present, field observation, 06 Apr (RBW); Rownhams, one, 29 Jul (AMS); Dibden Purlieu, one, to actinic, 01 Aug; two, to actinic, 24 Jul; one, to actinic, 25 Jul (RAC); Eastleigh, one, to actinic, 02 Aug; one, to actinic, 06 Aug (KArb); Stubbington, one, to actinic, 11 Aug (WMay); Fareham, one, 07 Aug (IMcP); Gosport, present, field observation, 05 Aug (iNat); Hilltop, The Hangers, one, 01 Aug (SI); Portchester, one, 12 Aug (JGe); Portsmouth, one, 31 Jul; one, 01 Aug; one, 03 Aug; four, 06 Aug; one, 08 Aug; one, 13 Aug; one, 20 Aug (IRT); Northney, Hayling Island, present, 24 Jun; present, 06 Aug; present, 07 Aug (JWP); Clanfield, present, field observation, 26 Jul (iNat); Petersfield, one, field observation, 29 Jul; Stroud, Petersfield, one, to actinic, 31 Jul; Petersfield, one, to actinic, 10 Aug (RAll); Burton, nr Christchurch, one, 14 Aug (JSw); Burton, Christchurch, larva, one, field observation, 03 May (iNat); Bransgore, NF, one, to actinic, ♀, 29 Jul (JHC); Milford on Sea, one, 09 Aug; one, 14 Aug (MMcM); Pilley Bailey, NF, one, 03 Aug; Norleywood, NF, present, 09 Aug (RBW, MWa);

VC12: Shipton Bellinger, one, field observation, 30 Jul (AJB); two, field observation, 30 Jul; one, field observation, 04 Aug (A&LB); one, field observation, 30 Jul (AJB); Pamber Forest*, one, field observation, 20 Aug (GJD)

66.008 [B&F: 1638] Fox Moth Macrothylacia rubi (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

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.

Records prior to 2020

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1010722319512019
1172875119462019
1219831019512019

2020 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1015194
111392
12861

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: The Needles, larva, one, field observation, 05 Aug; West High Down, larva, one, field observation, 05 Aug; Tennyson Down, larva, one, field observation, 05 Aug (IOu); larva, four, field observation, 02 Oct (PBa); Freshwater Cliffs, two, 20 May (SDa); Freshwater Bay, larva, one, field observation, 21 Sep; Compton Down, larva, one, field observation, 13 Sep (PBa); Brook Down, larva, one, field observation, 29 Aug (KNow); St Catherine's Point, larva, one, field observation, 22 Aug (SLea det. JBa); Mottistone Down, larva, one, field observation, 15 Sep (KNow); Shanklin, one, 17 May; Sandpit Copse, one, 20 May (IOu); Bembridge Down, larva, one, field observation, 23 Aug (AEld det. JBa);

VC11: Brockwood, two, 23 May (SDut); Ditchend Brook, Newfoundland, NF, larva, present, field observation, 30 Jul (RBW, MWa); Matley Heath, NF, larva, present, field observation, 12 Sep (iNat); Woodlands, New Forest, present, 31 May (RBW); Dibden Purlieu, larva, present, field observation, 26 Jul (iNat); one, to actinic, 29 May (RAC); Kings Copse, Holbury, larva, one, field observation, 01 Sep (ZGo); Yew Hill NR, larva, one, field observation, 24 Aug; larva, one, field observation, 24 Aug (CWoo); Botley, one, to actinic, 08 May (SLB); Portchester, larva, present, field observation, 26 Dec (iNat); Lymington, one, to light, 05 Jul (ASH);

VC12: Stockbridge, larva, present, field observation, 06 Aug (iNat); Beacon Hill, Highclere, larva, one, field observation, 14 Sep (DKel); Liss Forest*, one, indoors, 24 May (RJM); Liss Common, one, netted, 16 Jun (JHH, AMD); Bartley Heath, larva, one, field observation, 22 Aug (PAV); Church Crookham, one, to actinic, 22 May (DDim); Fleet, larva, present, field observation, 28 Sep (iNat)