Hantsmoths

Confined to woodland at a single site in Co. Kerry, Ireland, where recorded in June 2008 after an absence of over seventy years: the species flies late at night and is very sedentary. In the late 19th century, a few were also recorded outside of Ireland: several from a single locality in Staffordshire, and one was captured in Devon. Unlikely to be recorded in Hampshire or on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 38-42 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on Silver Birch and Downy Birch, over-wintering once or twice.