2022 Annual Report for: Saturniidae / Saturniinae

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taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species.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

68.001 [B&F: 1643] Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

Common on heathland, marshes, bogs, moorland, woodland rides and sand-dunes throughout much of the British Isles. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight frequent on the heaths, less so in marshes, occasional elsewhere, where wandering females are sometimes taken at light. Wingspan male 58-64 mm, female 68-88 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on Heather, Meadowsweet, Alder Buckthorn, Bramble, Hawthorn and Blackthorn, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
105018561981
1129330919512021
126119519512021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1115246
1210164

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: Ringwood Forest, one, to pheromone lure, male, 30 Apr; one, to pheromone lure, male, 30 Apr (CTha); Furzehill, NF, one, 03 May (SLoa); Brockenhurst, one, 05 Apr (TBla); Matley Heath, NF, six, field observation, 23 Apr (SLam det. AWhk); Pig Bush, NF, five, field observation, around 3.30pm, 25 Apr (NRJ); Dibden Purlieu, present, 30 Apr; one, 03 May; two, field observation, attracted to newly emerged female , 04 May; one, 07 May; one, 13 May (RAC); Buttsash, Hythe, one, 30 Apr (JBl); Needs Ore NNR*, one, to pheromone lure, 14 Apr; one, field observation, 23 Apr; one, field observation, 30 Apr (CNB);

VC12: Basingstoke, one, to pheromone lure, 20 Apr; one, to pheromone lure, 21 Apr (GAH); Silchester Common, two, to pheromone lure, 17 Apr (PCus); Longmoor Camp, Greatham, four, to pheromone lure, 11 Apr (GJD); Whitehill, two, to pheromone lure, 15 Apr (ASto); Hazeley Heath, larva, one, field observation, larva , 24 Jul (SLuc); Yateley Common, one, field observation, 28 Apr (BGD); Velmead, two, to pheromone lure, 11 Apr (GJD); Yateley Common, one, 28 Mar; one, 27 May (BGD)