Hantsmoths

Local on heathland and moorland, and in open woodland throughout the British Isles. In Hampshire this is now a rare species found mainly on the birch heaths of the New Forest and the north-east. Very scarce on the Isle of Wight, with no records there since 1993. Wingspan 36-42 mm. The main confusion species is Light Brocade L. w-latinum, which has a conspicuous black bar from claviform stigma, pale orbicular stigma not connected to tornal blotch, and no pinkish suffusion on upper- or underside (MBGBI Vol 9). Other confusion species include Dusky Brocade Apamea remissa and Pale-shouldered Brocade L. thalassina. Larva feeds on Birch, Oak, Broom, Bog-myrtle, Heather, Dyer's Greenweed and Bramble, over-wintering as a pupa.