Hantsmoths

Nationally scarce (Nb) on sandy beaches, on the coasts of England and Wales, east Scotland, Jersey, Alderney and the Isle of Man; it also occurs on the east and south coasts of Ireland. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight common on the dunes of Hayling Island and Hengistbury on the mainland, and at Bembridge and St Helens on the Island. Wingspan 32-42 mm. The most likely confusion species is Coast Dart Euxoa cursoria, which usually emerges several weeks later than Sand Dart, differs in having a longer, narrower forewing, and the space between the reniform stigma and the dorsum is only slightly greater than the depth of the reniform stigma itself, whereas in Sand Dart it is about twice that depth (MBGBI Vol 9). Confusion is also possible with Sandhill Rustic Luperina nickerlii, but that has a chequered fringe on the forewing, a white-edged reniform stigma and clearer, pale, dark-edged cross-lines (MBGBI Vol 10). Larva feeds on herbaceous plants, over-wintering in a cocoon.