Hantsmoths

Local in woodland and moorland throughout much of Scotland and north-western England, spreading into southern England. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight has long been known from the south coast of the Isle of Wight, and also apparently bred for a decade in the Selborne area of North Hampshire, of which A E Aston wrote in Ent Rec J Var 103 (1993): "I first saw (olivata) at house-lights here in Selborne on 16th August 1982, when there were three specimens, with singletons in subsequent years, the most recent arriving on 31st August 1993. Although olivata has occurred on the Isle of Wight and there are unpublished records for south Hampshire (Jim Read pers comm), Selborne appears to be the first locality for north Hampshire. The photographs I have taken this year reveal a form.... rather paler than those illustrated in Skinner and Wilson, 1984. Selborne, with its limestone outcrops and woods, seems to provide a suitable habitat for the species." It can only be presumed the species became temporarily established - it was also taken at Noar Hill in 1997, and was last seen by Aston in Aug 2006. Of the aforementioned south Hampshire records, I have no details. Wingspan 26-35 mm. Fairly distinctive, but like Green Carpet C. pectinataria fades to brownish-yellow with age. Larva feeds on Hedge Bedstraw, Lady's Bedstraw and Heath Bedstraw.