Hantsmoths

Three subspecies with restricted distributions are found in highland and coastal areas of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Subspecies caledonensis is scarce on steep, grassy, south-facing slopes and undercliffs on or near the coast, and on dunes and limestone areas inland, in the Inner Hebrides and the extreme western mainland (MBGBI Vol 2). Subspecies sabulosa is widely distributed and often abundant in the Burren district of Cos Clare and Galway, its range extending northwards through Co. Galway. Subspecies segontii, is possibly extinct, formerly found in Caernarvonshire (Gwynedd) where it occurred in small colonies along the cliffs near Abersoch, but was last observed in 1962. Unlikely to be recorded in Hampshire or on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 25-34 mm. Larva feeds on Wild Thyme, over-wintering at least once.