Hantsmoths

Very rare immigrant (less than 10 previous UK records) to the south-east coast of England from mainland Europe. A female was taken at light in Kent in 1951, while one exhibited at an Entomological Society meeting in London in September 1852 was said to have been taken in Dover. Not recorded in Hampshire or on the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan male 21-24 mm, female 34-38 mm. The main confusion species is Donacaula mucronellus which is smaller, with differently shaped wings, forewing more irrorate, with distinct zone of darker suffusion dorsal to costal stripe [Goater]. Larva feeds within stems of Common Club-rush; no evidence of breeding in the UK.