Hantsmoths

A rare species, on south-facing hillsides, clifftops and undercliffs; 0-150 m (0-1600 m in Europe) in parts of Dorset; elsewhere known from mainland Europe and Canary Islands. In our area, a pair were taken at Sandown, Isle of Wight on 1910, with another from Freshwater in 1949. Fassnidge reported that it was known from the New Forest at "one locality known to several entomologists, whether originally put down or not I cannot say," which is probably as dubious as it sounds. Wingspan 22-26 mm. Larva feeds on Tor-grass.