For species seen in 2023 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is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species.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 2023 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 2023, 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.
Common on damp grassland, fens, damp woodland, boggy heathland and gardens throughout much of England and Wales. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight widespread, but appears much less common than in the past, most frequent in marshy places and riversides, but also in drier grassy terrain. Wingspan male 50-58 mm, female 64-72 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on coarse grasses such as Common Reed, Reed Canary-grass and Cock's-foot.
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 | 314 | 480 | 1951 | 2022 |
11 | 3187 | 4679 | 1947 | 2022 |
12 | 1074 | 2083 | 1951 | 2022 |
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
---|---|---|---|
11 | 52 | 107 | 12 |
12 | 22 | 31 | 6 |
VC11: Hale, Fordingbridge, present, 18 Jul; Hale Purlieu, NF, one, 17 Jul (JPuz); Marchwood, two, 08 Aug (TDCh); North Baddesley, one, 27 Jul (RWPas); East Tytherley, three, 09 Aug; three, 09 Aug; one, 11 Jul; one, 11 Jul; one, 09 Aug; one, 27 Aug; two, 09 Aug; two, 11 Jul (GCE); Fishlake Meadows, Romsey, larva, one, field observation, 18 May (DAS); Fishlake Meadows, 12, 13 Jul; 10, 25 Jul (NRJ); Broughton, one, 19 Jul; two, 19 Jul; Winter Down Copse, Little Somborne, one, 31 Jul; one, 31 Jul; one, 31 Jul (GCE); Itchen Valley CP, one, 29 Jul (CTha); Farley Mount, larva, present, field observation, 01 Jun (NGoo); Brownwich cliffs, one, male. , 07 Jul; Brownwich Cliffs, Titchfield, one, 07 Jul; Titchfield Haven NNR, two, 19 Aug (F.M.G.); Botley Wood, 10, 04 Aug (AMD); seven, 28 Jul; Pigeon House Coppice, Boarhunt, three, 11 Aug (F.M.G.); Botley, two, 06 Aug; one, 21 Jul; one, 11 Aug (SLB); Dean, Bishop's Waltham, present, 02 Jul (CMor); Wickham, one, 29 Jul; one, 09 Aug; two, 20 Aug (JRDS); Waterlooville, one, 16 Jul; one, 24 Jul (DWhe); Old Winchester Hill, one, 28 Jul (MJW); Old Winchester Hill NNR, larva, present, field observation, 16 May (JHol); Stroud, Petersfield, one, 16 Jul; Petersfield Heath, one, 25 Jul (RAll); Hengistbury Head, two, 14 Aug (BKin); one, 15 Aug (SLev); one, 20 Jul; one, 25 Jul; one, 31 Jul; two, 09 Aug; one, 23 May; two, 27 Jun (MJef); Christchurch, larva, one, field observation, 19 Jun (JoHun); Needs Ore NNR, one, 24 Jul (PCra); six, 09 Aug; three, 16 Aug (CNB);
VC12: Wherwell, one, 18 Jul; one, 18 Jul; one, 18 Jul; one, 18 Jul; Barton Stacey, one, 09 Jul; Forton, four, 24 Jul; Cole Henley, two, 07 Jul (GCE); Magdalen Hill Down NR, one, at dusk, 23 Jul (AMD); Magdalen Hill Down NNR, one, 24 Jun (KArb, ARho, PPea); Cheriton Mill, larva, present, field observation, 16 Oct (JHol); Vyne Lodge Farm, Cufaude, one, 23 Jul (AWan); Lord's Wood, Pamber Forest, one, 07 Jul (WLan); Pamber Forest, two, 18 Jul (GJD); Chawton House, Alton, one, 06 Jul (DAS); Bentley Station Meadow, one, 08 Aug (NDP, KBW det. KBW); Hook, larva, present, field observation, 14 May (iNat); Bramshill Plantation, Eversley, larva, one, field observation, 27 May (TWal); Alice Holt, present, field observation, 09 Aug (iNat); Fleet Pond, larva, one, field observation, 24 Jun; one, 28 Jul; six, 03 Aug (MHals)
Common in hedgerows, scrub, downland, open woodland and gardens throughout southern England and south Wales, north to Cumbria. Widespread and fairly common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 56-98 mm. One of the most remarkably camouflaged of all British moths. Larva feeds on Blackthorn and Hawthorn, and less frequently on Apple, Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn.
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 | 70 | 59 | 1951 | 2022 |
11 | 227 | 186 | 1948 | 2022 |
12 | 211 | 180 | 1940 | 2022 |
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
---|---|---|---|
11 | 11 | 11 | 1 |
12 | 19 | 22 | 2 |
VC11: East Tytherley, one, 21 Jun; one, 21 Jun (GCE); Romsey, one, 05 Jul (KPea); one, 28 Jun (NRJ); Needs Ore NNR, one, 01 Jul (PCra); Lovedean, one, 29 Jun (ARJa); Stroud, Petersfield*, one, 26 Jun (RAll); Pennington, one, 21 Jun (RFC); Lymington, one, 07 Jul (PRD); Needs Ore NNR, one, 30 Jun; one, 01 Jul (CNB);
VC12: Stockbridge Down, two, 08 Jul (MEdg); Wherwell, one, 18 Jul; Chilbolton, one, 23 Jun; one, 23 Jul (GCE); The Hawk Conservancy, Weyhill, present, field observation, 14 Jul (iNat); Anna Valley, Andover, one, 07 Jul; Goodworth Clatford, two, 01 Jul (TJN); Barton Stacey, one, 09 Jul; Littleton, one, 27 Jun; two, 27 Jun; Cole Henley, one, 07 Jul; one, 27 Jul (GCE); Magdalen Hill Down NR, one, 23 Jul (AMD); Morn Hill, Winchester, one, 08 Jul (CRB, PDF, DAS, LHur); Hinton Ampner, one, 10 Jul (ASD); Tidgrove Warren, nr Overton, one, 07 Jul (MJW, ACB); Vyne Lodge Farm, Cufaude, two, 02 Jul; one, 09 Jul; one, 13 Jul (AWan)