Hantsmoths

Suspected rare immigrant, or perhaps accidentally imported, from central Europe. The first three national records, at Leckford, Hampshire on 8 August 1988, Virginia Water, Surrey on 13 June 1989 and Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire on 20 June 1995 were thought to refer to genuine migrants. Subsequent records, including three between 13 June and 5 July 1999 in a garden in Exeter in close proximity to a newly-thatched cottage, and probably all preceding records, are believed to have originated from reeds imported from central Europe for thatching cottages. However, in 2010 a thriving colony was discovered at Afton Marshes, IoW and has been recorded annually ever since; the origin of this population is unknown, nor indeed how long it may have been at this site - primary immigration would seem to be more than plausible. Wingspan 25-30 mm. Larva feeds on Common Reed.

VC10 Isle of Wight

VC12 North Hampshire