Hantsmoths

Nationally scarce (Nb) in orchards, gardens and parks throughout much of south-eastern England. Naturalised through accidental introduction in fruit and now thoroughly established. In Hampshire the only records to date have been from Southsea, where seven came to light between 1984 and 1991, and on Porton Down, where one was found in 1997. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan male 15-19 mm, female 18-22 mm. One of only two representative of the genus known in the British Isles, both of which have characteristic wing venation; the main confusion species is the rare immigrant A. privatana, which has pale yellow-brown not dark grey hindwing. Larva feeds on flowers of various fruit trees and deciduous trees and shrubs, living between leaves spun together with silk, causing sufficient damage to be a serious pest in some areas.

VC10 Isle of Wight

VC11 South Hampshire