Hantsmoths

Nationally scarce (Nb) on sea cliffs, quarries and embankments, along the coasts of southern England and Wales. From the middle of the 20th Century also inland on derelict industrial sites in the Midlands, but since about 1964 records on these inland sites have become fewer. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight has virtually disappeared from the coast, but still appears occasionally inland, most recently at Sherborne St John in July 2007 and at Great Linford in the New Forest in June 2008. Wingspan 42-45 mm. The main confusion species is probably Scarce Wormwood Cucullia artemisiae, but this species lacks the figure 8 in the stigmata, which are edged with black instead of white, and has narrower forewings with brownish rather than black suffusion (MBGBI Vol 10). Larva feeds on flowers and seedheads of Wormwood, over-wintering as a pupa.

VC10 Isle of Wight

VC11 South Hampshire

VC12 North Hampshire