Hantsmoths

The White Admiral is a species of woodland and forest, found in central and southern England, as well as in a few scattered colonies in the eastern counties of Wales, but is not present in Scotland, Ireland or the Isle of Man. At the turn of the 20th century it's range had contracted to southern England, but the next hundred years saw the butterfly reaching its former distribution that extends as far north as Lincolnshire. This may be due to a combination of climate change allowing re-colonisation of sites that had become too cool, and the cessation of coppicing which benefits a species which requires Honeysuckle growing in shady woodland for successful development of its larvae.

While range has increased, long-term monitoring has indicated a significant decrease in abundance of over 50% between 1976 and 2014, the majority of which has occurred since 2005. It is therefore a UK BAP priority species for conservation efforts.

In our area still reasonably common in the New Forest and can be found in most large woods across the county and on the Isle of Wight.