Hantsmoths

Represented in Britain by four allopatric subspecies, all restricted to sandy and rocky coasts. Subspecies guennei is A Red Data Book species known from Anglesey and several other places along the coast of North Wales, and from Lancashire. Subspecies knilli is an endangered Red Data Book found along the cliffs of the Dingle peninsula in Co. Kerry. Subspecies leechi is A Red Data Book species, known from a single strip of shingly sand about 400 m by 200 m in south-west Cornwall. Subspecies demuthi occurs along the north Kent from Faversham to the Isle of Sheppey, and on the Essex coast north to Aldeburgh, Suffolk. In Hampshire one - not determined to subspecies - was reportedly taken at Farringdon in the north of the county in 1950, a presumed immigrant, and is the only record for the two counties. Wingspan 32-42 mm. Depending on the subspecies, the larva feeds on Common Couch, Red Fescue, Common Saltmarsh-grass, Reflexed Saltmarsh-grass and Bulbous Meadow-grass.

VC12 North Hampshire