Hantsmoths

The first record for Britain was taken in Hollesley, Suffolk on 17 June 2022 (Raymond Watson, Ent Rec 134, pp 213-214). A species with a widespread distribution in mainland Europe, and with Yarrow being the larval foodplant, it is perhaps surprising that it has not been discovered in the British Isle before now, and others may have passed undetected. In any case, further examples may be expected and it would be a good candidate for potential colonisation. Externally, the moth is described as quite dark, broad-winged, with a whitish dorsal blotch: identification of future specimens will require genitalic dissection as on external appearance it appears similar to other British Epiblema.