Hantsmoths

Formerly considered a migrant to southern England from mainland Europe, in some years arriving in sufficient numbers to breed, it now has become established since the mid 1990s predominantly along the south coast of Hampshire inland into the New Forest, and along the north shore of the Isle of Wight; it is spreading northwards and has now reached the VC11/VC12 boundary, and one in the north-east in 2022 represents the first incursion from the Sussex heaths to the east. Wingspan 24-29 mm. Similar in structure, size and markings to U. prunalis, but differs in the dull fulvous brown coloration of the forewing, which is slaty grey in U. prunalis, and in the wider submedian sinus of second line [Goater]. Larva feeds on Black Horehound, Meadow Clary, Red Campion and White Campion.