2021 Annual Report for: Lasiocampidae / Lasiocampinae

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taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species.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

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 2021

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

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

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 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1017222619732020
11939112919472020
12383119512020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10563
1144493
12431

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: Freshwater Bay, one, 26 Jun (PBar); Newport, one, male, 14 Aug; larva, one, field observation, early instar on blueberry, 16 Nov (DPl); Wheelers Bay, three, 04 Aug (ABut);

VC11: Avon Heath Country Park, one, 26 Jul (BWal); Ringwood, larva, present, field observation, 31 May (RNay); Furzehill, NF, larva, one, field observation, 18 Mar (SLoa); Burley, NF, one, 19 Jul; one, 20 Jul; two, 21 Jul (NDP); Ances Wood, New Forest, one, field observation, 02 Jul (JNew); Marchwood, one, 24 Jul; one, 06 Aug; larva, one, field observation, 04 Sep (TDCh); Woodlands, NF, present, 28 Jul (RBW); Romsey, one, field observation, 25 Aug (KPea); one, 13 Aug (NRJ); Dibden Purlieu, one, 26 Jul; one, 25 Jul (RAC); Hamble Common, one, field observation, 03 Aug (A&LB); Valley Park, Chandlers Ford, one, 19 Aug (KArb); Hook with Warsash NR, larva, one, 23 Jun (MGP); Botley Wood, two, females, 13 Aug (MLO, ADT, DWal, KJW); Lee-on-Solent, one, 19 Aug (IHrg); Fareham, one, female, 03 Aug; one, female, 09 Aug; one, female, 10 Aug (ADT); Bridgemary, Totton, present, field observation, 12 Jul (iNat); Botley, one, 02 Aug; one, 04 Aug; one, 05 Aug; one, 05 Aug; one, 07 Aug; one, 09 Aug; one, 10 Aug; two, 13 Aug; one, 18 Aug; one, 29 Aug (SLB); Wickham, one, 10 Aug; one, 13 Aug (JRDS); Portsmouth, one, 10 Aug; three, 14 Aug (IRT); Old Winchester Hill, larva, one, on ground, fully grown larva on a footpath, 11 Jun (RJD, MLO, DWal, KJW); Hengistbury Head, one, 11 Aug; one, 12 Aug (SDar); two, 11 Aug (MJef); Stanpit Recreation and Depot, two, field observation, 16 Aug (PMor); Browndown Coastal Ranges, two, females, 20 Aug (RJD, MLO, DWal, KJW);

VC12: Over Wallop, one, 16 Jul (CMap); Selborne, one, 28 Jul; present, field observation, 28 Jul (CJP); Farnborough, one, 04 Aug (MThop)

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 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1012224219512020
1172274319462020
1220129719512020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1012132
1118142
12233511

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: Freshwater Bay, one, 02 Jun; larva, two, field observation, larva, 25 Oct (SDav); Freshwater, one, 01 Jul (PBar); , present, 27 Oct (RJhn); Brook Down, larva, one, 01 Oct (KNow det. NKow); Mottistone Chalk Pits, larva, one, 09 Oct (KShw); Wheelers Bay, one, field observation, 29 Jul (ABut); Bonchurch, one, 17 May (JHa); Newport, one, 15 May; two, 01 Jun; egg-batch, one, 01 Jun (SuHug); Wootton Bridge, one, 15 Jun (DElm);

VC11: Ashley Heath, one, 12 Jun (SDut); Furzehill, NF, one, 03 Jun; one, 14 Jun; one, 29 Jun (SLoa); Burley, larva, present, field observation, 25 Oct; Brockenhurst, larva, present, field observation, 13 Sep (iNat); Blackhill, NF, larva, one, field observation, 06 Sep (LGal); Shatterford Bottom, NF, larva, one, field observation, fully grown caterpillar, 12 Sep (A&LB); Hawkhill Inclosure, NF, larva, present, field observation, 20 Sep (iNat); Brockenhurst, larva, present, field observation, 07 Sep (CBel); East Tytherley, one, 12 Jun; one, 12 Jun (GCE); Deacon Hill, two, field observation, 01 Jun (AJB); Fareham, one, 03 Jun (MLO); Wickham Common, one, female, deposited eggs on sheet, 28 May (KCok, RJD, MLO, DWal); Wickham, one, 31 May (JRDS); Merritown Heath, present, 10 Jun (DFoo); Sway, one, 23 Jun (PBar);

VC12: Stockbridge, larva, present, field observation, 01 Sep; Danebury Hill Fort, larva, present, field observation, 03 Oct (iNat); Stockbridge Down, larva, one, field observation, 12 May (CKni); West Down, Chilbolton, larva, one, field observation, 24 Aug; Bullington, one, 10 Jun (GCE); Beacon Hill, Highclere, larva, one, field observation, 10 Oct (DKel); Pamber Forest, one, 09 Jun (GJD); Longmoor Camp, Greatham*, larva, one, field observation, 27 Oct (DAS); Bordon, larva, present, field observation, 01 Oct (NHor); larva, present, field observation, 17 Aug (LWea); Minley Wood, four, field observation, 08 Jun; one, field observation, 09 Jun; one, field observation, 17 Jun; larva, one, field observation, 10 Jul; larva, one, field observation, 02 Aug; larva, one, field observation, 26 Aug; larva, one, field observation, 24 Oct (BDal); Fleet, larva, present, field observation, 21 Sep (iNat); Yateley Common, larva, three, field observation, 11 Sep; three, field observation, 19 Jun; 11, field observation, 06 Jun; one, field observation, 07 Jun; larva, one, field observation, 31 Jul (BDal);