2021 Annual Report for: Crambidae / Acentropinae

For species seen in 2021 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is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species.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 2021 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 2021, 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.

63.114 [B&F: 1345] Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

Common in ponds and ditches throughout the British Isles. In Hampshire locally common in New Forest bogs and in ponds and canals across the county, with occasional wanderers elsewhere in the county and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 25-33 mm. The main confusion species is Beautiful China-mark Nymphula stagnata, but Brown China-mark is larger, with broader, browner wings. Larva feeds on aquatic plants such as Water-lily, Bur-reed and Pondweed Potamogeton, living entirely underwater.

Records prior to 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10554918562018
111197159419512020
1221935319512020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10441
1125315
1212198

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Details

VC10: Totland, one, 29 Aug (RTer); Cowes, one, 29 Jun (DNor); Alverstone, one, 16 Aug (DFai); Osborne Valley Walk, one, 26 Aug (IOut);

VC11: Fordingbridge, one, 02 Jul; one, 10 Sep (SCT); Furzehill, NF, one, 19 Jun; one, 29 Jun; one, 04 Sep; Brogenslade Bottom, NF, one, field observation, 25 Jun (SLoa); Burley, NF, two, 19 Jul (NDP); Marchwood, one, 07 Sep (TDCh); Woodlands, NF, present, 06 Jun (RBW); Romsey, one, 09 Jul (MBak); one, 03 Jul; one, 14 Aug (NRJ); Kings Somborne, one, 12 Aug (GCE); Swaythling, Southampton, one, 02 Jul (MEdg); Southampton, one, 17 Jul (MGP); Wildern LNR, Hedge End, two, field observation, 12 Jun (TCrw det. ); Botley Wood, two, 10 Sep (RJD, MLO, DWal, KJW); Fareham, one, 01 Jul; one, 17 Aug (MLO); Botley, one, 01 Sep (SLB); Wickham, one, 19 Jul (JRDS); Upham, five, 25 Aug (RJD); Hengistbury Head, one, 11 Aug (SDar); Hurn, one, 19 Jul; one, 10 Aug (MJef);

VC12: Alton, one, 13 Jul; one, field observation, 14 Jul; one, 18 Jul; one, field observation, 19 Jul (EFig); Empshott, one, 07 Sep (CJP); Whitehill, one, 10 Jun; one, 11 Jun; one, 24 Jun; one, 02 Jul; one, 05 Sep (ASto); Yateley Common, eight, field observation, 08 Sep; one, field observation, 11 Sep (BDal)

63.115 [B&F: 1331] Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) - Common

Common in ponds, lakes and slow rivers throughout much of the British Isles. In Hampshire and, to a lesser extent, on the Isle of Wight, locally abundant in suitable habitat throughout. Wingspan male 13-17 mm, female wingless. Only the distinctive male is likely to be encountered and on certain nights it undergoes massive dispersal flights when it appears at light far from water and often in vast numbers (1000+ not unknown). Larva feeds on Canadian Waterweed and Pondweed, living entirely underwater.

Records prior to 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
109896319752020
1120752598219512020
128221948919512020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10158120
116011812
1244657320

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Totland, 21 Jul, 6 (RTer) Latest: Osborne Valley Walk, 22 Jul, 2 (IOut) Max count: Haseley Manor, 13 Jul, 20 (IOut)

VC11: Earliest: Marchwood, 08 Jul, 2 (TDCh) Latest: Pennington, 27 Jun, 6 (RFC) Max count: Winchester, 16 Jul, 12 (THW)

VC12: Earliest: Chilbolton, 15 Jul, 3 (SLE) Latest: Farnborough, 26 Aug, 1 (KBW) Max count: Pamber Forest, 15 Jul, 320 (GJD)

63.116 [B&F: 1354] Small China-mark Cataclysta lemnata (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

Common around ponds and reed-beds throughout the British Isles. In Hampshire locally common in suitable habitat, especially along the coast between Southampton and Gosport, and in north-east Hampshire; apparent increases in recent years may be due to increased observer coverage, but it remains very rare on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan male 18-19 mm, female 22-24 mm. Females nocturnal, males fly in the afternoon. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on Common Duckweed, Bulrush and Unbranched Bur-reed, living mostly underwater.

Records prior to 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
109121618562020
1148480719512020
1210316719512020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1022406
1131356
1210101

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Details

VC10: Freshwater, one, field observation, 03 Jun; one, 06 Jun; one, 09 Jun; two, 15 Jun; three, 20 Jun; one, 18 Jul; one, 31 Jul; four, 04 Aug; one, 14 Aug; one, 20 Aug; one, 25 Aug; two, 27 Aug; two, 29 Aug; one, 31 Aug; six, 03 Sep; two, 06 Sep; four, 09 Sep; two, 12 Sep (DCoo); Newport, one, field observation, 11 Aug (DPl); Osborne Valley Walk, one, 22 Jul; one, 26 Aug (IOut); Seaview, one, 25 Jul (J&SMas);

VC11: Avon Heath Country Park, one, 03 Aug (SDut); Marchwood, one, 14 Jul (TDCh); one, 22 Jul (CTha); Woodlands, NF, present, 02 Jun (RBW); Totton, one, 16 Jul; one, 18 Aug (LHan); Romsey, one, 12 Jun (MBak); two, 01 Jul (NRJ); Broughton, one, 15 Aug (GCE); Southampton, one, female, 14 Jun (MGP); Wildern LNR, Hedge End, one, field observation, 13 Jun (TCrw det. ); Barn Piece, Eastleigh, one, 08 Jun (KArb); Brownwich cliffs, six, 6+ males flying amongst reeds and over brackish water at dusk (one male netted & checked) and 1 female at the lamp, 16 Jul (MLO, RJD, KJW); Fareham, one, 09 Aug; one, 07 Sep (MLO); Botley, one, 26 Jul; one, 10 Aug; one, 03 Sep; one, 05 Sep; one, 08 Sep; one, 09 Sep; one, 01 Jul; one, 09 Sep; one, 12 Sep (SLB); West Walk, one, male, 23 Jul (RJD, MLO, ADT, DWal, KJW); Merritown Heath, present, 10 Jun (DFoo); Hurn, one, 06 Sep (MJef); Christchurch, one, 11 Aug (PHug); Milford on Sea, one, 18 Jul; one, 11 Sep (MMcM); Pennington, one, 21 Jul (RFC);

VC12: Anna Valley, Andover, one, 11 Aug; one, 14 Aug (TJN, LFom); Basingstoke, one, 19 Jul (MJW); Pamber Forest, one, 11 Jun; one, 16 Jul (GJD); Alton, one, field observation, 26 Aug (EFig); Whitehill, one, 26 Jul (ASto); Hammer Vale, one, 12 Jun (ASwa); Farnborough, one, 22 Jul; one, 01 Aug (KBW)

63.117 [B&F: 1348] Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

Common in ponds, canals and other aquatic habitats throughout England. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight evidently far less frequent than formerly. Wingspan male 22-24 mm, female 28-30 mm. Distinguished from other related species by the white, dark-rimmed discal spot, present in both sexes [Goater]. Larva feeds on various pondweeds and water plants, living entirely underwater.

Records prior to 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10444718562020
1162482819512020
1228639119512020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
108102
1177975
1224262

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Freshwater, 15 Jun, 2 (DCoo) Latest: Osborne Valley Walk, 26 Aug, 1 (IOut) Max count: Freshwater, 15 Jun, 2 (DCoo)

VC11: Earliest: Avon Heath Country Park, 03 Aug, 1 (SDut) Latest: Browndown Coastal Ranges, 27 Aug, 1 (MLO, ADT, DWal, KJW) Max count: Milford on Sea, 23 Jul, 5 (MMcM)

VC12: Earliest: Goodworth Clatford, 10 Aug, 1 (JMor) Latest: Blackwater, 24 Jun, 1 (BDal) Max count: Crawley, 14 Jun, 2 (GCE)

63.118 [B&F: 1350] Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata (Hufnagel, 1767) - Local

Local in ponds throughout much of Britain. In Hampshire widespread in the south, but in the northern half of the county, largely restricted to the north-east. Recorded on the Isle of Wight for the first time since 1952 at Freshwater in 2000. Wingspan 20-25 mm. Smaller and whiter than Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata; lightly marked specimens could be mistaken for male Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, but in that species the forewing discal spot is a closed circle [Goater]. Larva feeds on Branched Bur-reed, Unbranched Bur-reed, Yellow Water-lily and other water plants, living entirely underwater.

Records prior to 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
106318562016
1122325419512020
12323819512019

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1119183
12111

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Details

VC11: Avon Heath Country Park, one, 03 Aug (SDut); Fordingbridge, present, 30 Jul; one, 06 Aug; one, 13 Aug; three, 20 Aug (SCT); Furzehill, NF, one, 19 Aug (SLoa); Marchwood, one, 11 Aug (CTha); Woodlands, NF, present, 07 Jul (RBW); Dibden Purlieu, one, 29 Jul; one, 02 Sep (RAC); Itchen Way, Highbridge, one, field observation, 20 Aug (SIng); Muscliffe, two, 11 Aug (SDar); Merritown Heath, present, 10 Jun (DFoo); Hurn, one, 02 Jul; one, 16 Jul; one, 06 Sep (MJef); Sway, present, 21 Aug (DMui); Needs Ore NNR, one, 18 Aug (CNB); one, 19 Aug (PCra);

VC12: Goodworth Clatford, one, 09 Aug (JMor)