Photo © Martin Angel

Levant Blackneck

Tathorhynchus exsiccata

Checklist Number
72.065 [B&F: 2296]

Verification
Record will require further evidence, at least a good photograph, unless CMR is aware recorder has confidence in identification

Classification

Family:Erebidae
Subfamily:Toxocampinae
Genus:Tathorhynchus
Species:exsiccata
Authority:(Lederer, 1855)

Rare immigrant from the Canary Islands and North Africa, appearing on the south coast, generally in early spring. In Hampshire there are three records of four individuals, all from North Hampshire, and not since 1967. The first and to date (2019) only record from the Isle of Wight was on the unusual date of 21 April 2017. Wingspan 30-32 mm. Possible confusion species include certain forms of Silky Wainscot Chilodes maritimus. Larva feeds on Lucerne and other Leguminosae; no evidence of breeding in the UK.
Update: Status review, December 2019.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

VC10 Isle of Wight

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Freshwater (SZ38)21/04/2017oneMike HalseyAdult

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Farringdon (SU73)20/03/1952oneGraham DennisAdult
Martyr Worthy (SU53)02/02/1967twoStephen PlummerAdult
Martyr Worthy (SU53)03/02/1967oneH S RobinsonAdult