2022 Annual Report for: Eriocraniidae / Eriocraniinae

For species seen in 2022 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is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species.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 2022 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 2022, 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.

02.001 [B&F: 0006] Dyseriocrania subpurpurella (Haworth, 1828) - Common

Common in oak woodland throughout the British Isles, excluding northern Scotland. Well distributed and fairly common, sometimes abundant, in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight, wherever there are oak trees. Wingspan 9-14 mm; a diurnal species which is also attracted to light, in dull weather it rests on the trunks and branches of oak trees. The metallic gold forewing is speckled with minute purple or blue spots. Larva mines leaves of Oak, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1011117519482021
11641141519722021
1236880019402021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10104318
1118233
1221458

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: Shanklin, three, 28 Mar; one, 30 Mar; three, 04 Apr; two, 10 Apr; 18, 11 Apr; five, 15 Apr; seven, 16 Apr; one, field observation, 20 Apr; two, 20 Apr; Osborne Valley Walk, one, 22 Apr (IOu);

VC11: Marchwood, one, 04 Apr; one, 14 Apr (CTha); Franchises Wood, NF, present, 17 Apr (RBW); Romsey, one, 26 Mar; two, 17 Apr; one, 19 Apr (NRJ); Crawley, one, 13 Apr (GCE); Weston Greenway, Southampton, one, field observation, 20 Apr (PAB); Vale Park, Chandler's Ford, two, 17 Apr (KArb); Allbrook, three, 26 Mar; one, 04 Apr; one, 12 Apr; one, 17 Apr; one, 22 Apr (SIng); Botley Wood, one, 15 Apr (RJD, MLO, ADT, DWal, KJW det. RJD); two, 29 Apr (RJD, MLO, DWal, KJW det. RJD); Portchester, one, 24 Apr (DH-J); West Walk, two, 22 Apr (RJD, MLO, ADT, DWal, KJW);

VC12: Goodworth Clatford, one, 05 Apr; Barton Stacey, one, 22 Apr (GCE); Headley Gravel Pit, mine, five, 09 May (GJD); Great Haughurst Copse, Axmansford, one, 15 Apr; one, 30 Apr (ACB det. GJD); Crabtree Plantation, Basingstoke, mine, seven, on Quercus robur, 21 May (BGD); Pamber Forest, mine, four, 21 Apr; two, 11 Apr (GJD); Whitedown, Alton, one, 11 Apr (BCA); Odiham Common, vacated mine, one, on Quercus robur, 03 Jun (BGD); Hammer Vale, Woolmer, two, 20 Apr (ASwa); Minley Wood, one, swept, 18 Apr; one, swept, 18 Apr; one, swept, 17 Apr; Yateley Common, one, swept, 30 Apr; two, 28 Mar; eight, 15 Apr; two, 15 Apr; one, field observation, 05 Apr; Hawley Meadows, one, field observation, 17 Apr; Frogmore Community College, Yateley, one, field observation, 08 Apr (BGD)

02.003 [B&F: 0008] Eriocrania unimaculella (Zetterstedt, 1839) - Local

Local in birch woodland throughout most of Britain. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight local and evidently rather uncommon amongst birch, most frequently in southern Hampshire. Wingspan 9-11 mm. This species is most easily distinguished from other Eriocrania by the conspicuous silvery tornal spot, which in most other species is pale golden (MBGBI Vol 1). Larva mines leaves of Birch, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
103319322009
11422819642021
12152319762021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
11100
1252410

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: Botley Wood, mine, present, 07 May (DPH);

VC12: Headley Gravel Pit*, mine, five, 09 May; Pamber Forest, mine, six, 21 Apr; mine, two, 24 Apr; mine, 10, 03 May (GJD); Yateley Common, mine, one, 30 Apr (BGD)

02.004 [B&F: 0009] Eriocrania sparrmannella (Bosc, 1791) - Local

Local in birch woodland throughout the British Isles. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight local and evidently rather uncommon amongst birch, most frequently in southern Hampshire. Wingspan 10-13 mm. E. salopiella has a similar pattern and wing shape but is normally suffused with purple and bright blue (MBGBI Vol 1). Larva mines leaves of Birch, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
109020092015
11484719732021
1211519982021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
11594
12122

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: Titchfield Common, mine, one, 15 Jun; Titchfield Common: Kites Croft LNR, mine, two, 15 Jun; Botley Wood, mine, four, 16 Jun; mine, one, 16 Jun (DPH); Pennington, one, 28 Mar (RFC);

VC12: Pamber Forest, mine, two, 30 Jun (GJD)

02.005 [B&F: 0010] Eriocrania salopiella (Stainton, 1854) - Local

Local in birch woodland throughout Britain, with a scattered, discontinuous distribution. Erratically distributed in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight, with notable populations around Fleet Pond, Botley Wood and Havant Thicket, but almost certainly under-recorded. Wingspan 9-12 mm. Day-flying. Adults difficult to distinguish from other Eriocrania species, and more frequently recorded in the larval stage, when mines are relatively easy to find where they are present. Larva mines leaves of Birch, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
108520032014
11462819742021
12322019762021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
11321
12111

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: Botley Wood, mine, one, 14 May; mine, present, 07 May (DPH); mine, one, 08 May (DWal);

VC12: Yateley Common, mine, one, 03 May (BGD)

02.006 [B&F: 0011] Eriocrania cicatricella (Zetterstedt, 1839) - Local

Local in birch woodland throughout Britain. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight widely distributed, but not particularly common. Wingspan 9-13 mm. Day-flying. Very similar to E. chrysolepidella and only reliably separable by dissection of the genitalia. Larva mines leaves of Birch, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
109419332020
11485919712021
12211519912021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10100
11494
12122

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: America Wood, mine, present, 15 May (IOu);

VC11: Botley Wood, mine, two, 24 Apr; mine, one, 16 Apr; mine, two, 16 Apr; Whiteley, mine, four, 24 Apr (DPH);

VC12: Yateley Common, mine, two, 30 Apr (BGD)

02.007 [B&F: 0013] Eriocrania semipurpurella (Stephens, 1835) - Common

Common in birch woodland throughout the British Isles. Fairly widely distributed in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight, where it is the most common of the six birch feeding Eriocrania species. Wingspan 9-14 mm. Day-flying. Very similar to E. sangii, from which separated only by dissection of the genitalia. Larva mines leaves of Birch, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1011919322019
11828719712021
12375319752021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10122
1151410
1212369

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: Shanklin, , two, 28 Mar (IOu);

VC11: Marchwood, one, 04 Apr (CTha); Titchfield Common, mine, one, 16 Apr; Titchfield Common: Kites Croft LNR, mine, one, 21 Apr; Botley Wood, mine, 10, 15 Apr; mine, one, 16 Apr (DPH);

VC12: Headley Gravel Pit, mine, two, 09 May; Pamber Forest, mine, one, 24 Apr; mine, six, 03 May (GJD); Yateley Common, mine, nine, 30 Apr; mine, one, 02 May; mine, two, 28 Apr; mine, three, on Betula pendula, 21 Apr; mine, six, 30 Apr; mine, one, 02 May; one, 15 Apr; two, sensoria det, BGD, 28 Mar; mine, two, 30 Apr (BGD)

02.008 [B&F: 0012] Eriocrania sangii (Wood, 1891) - Local

Local in birch woodland throughout much of Britain. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight widely distributed, but not particularly common. Wingspan 9-14 mm. Day-flying. Can only be separated from E. semipurpurella by dissection of the genitalia. Larva mines leaves of Birch, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
109319942014
11543519632021
12272319762021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
11584
12661

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: Titchfield Common, mine, one, 16 Apr; Titchfield Common: Kites Croft LNR, mine, four, 21 Apr; Botley Wood, mine, one, 16 Apr; mine, present, 07 May; mine, two, 16 Apr (DPH);

VC12: Pamber Forest, mine, one, 24 Apr; mine, one, 03 May (GJD); Yateley Common, mine, one, 30 Apr; mine, one, 02 May; one, sensoria det, BGD, 28 Mar; mine, one, 30 Apr (BGD)