Hantsmoths

Nowadays a rare immigrant to the British Isles from continental Europe, with the majority of sightings from the south coast of England, although individuals do reach inland and there are several records from southern Ireland. Historically, it was far more common: the first record dates back as far as 1710, and was noticed in numbers in 1818 and thenceforth every year until 1885 - with a high of 50 records in 1872. However, since then there were only an additional 42 records up until the start of the Second World War. During the 1940s it had a resurgence with an additional 75 records but numbers thereafter again dropped off to a level of extreme rarity.

From the 1990s onwards numbers have been increasing, and a short-lived breeding colony was established in Suffolk during the late 1990s. 2007 saw a number of sightings across the south coast - including one in Hampshire - and in 2009 several individuals were seen near Chichester on the Sussex coast, with mating being seen at least once. As this was in the same locality as a sighting in 2007, it has been speculated that this may be evidence that a small colony is established in the area. However, while females have been seen ovipositing at times in the past, no larvae have been found on mainland Britain: the species is thought to be unable to survive British winters, but this may change as migrant numbers increase and climate change effects combine to make over-wintering more likely.

Wingspan 38-46 mm. Larva feeds on Wild Pansy and Field Pansy.