Hantsmoths

Nationally scarce (Nb) in reed-beds, marshes and gravel pits, on the coasts of southern England from Scilly to Lincolnshire. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight locally common in the marshes in the south of the county and on the Island, but only recorded once in the north of the county, at Bramshill Plantation in July 2006. Wingspan 34-44 mm. The most likely confusion species is Rush Wainscot A. algae, but in Webb's Wainscot the postmedian line is usually more conspicuous, and represented by about seven neural dots absent in Rush Wainscot (MBGBI Vol 10). Larva feeds on Bulrush, Lesser Bulrush, Yellow Iris and Branched Bur-reed, over-wintering as an egg.