2021 Annual Report for: Cosmopterigidae / Cosmopteriginae
For species seen in 2021 that had less than or equal to 100 records, full details are included; for more common species, the earliest, latest and highest count by vice-county are shown. The narrative for each species is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species. The tables in each species account summarise the previous status, and that for the current year.
For the maps, all records prior to 2021 are shown by a blue dot (the larger the dot, the more recent), with the current year's records shown in red. As previous records are superimposed on any report for 2021, new sites have greater emphasis (i.e. will show as 'more red').
In the species accounts, an asterisk next to a location indicates a new 10km square record; earliest ever dates are highlighted in orange, and latest ever in red. Initials in the species accounts refer to the recorders listed here. Please get in touch if you identify any omissions or errors, in particular if you have records that have yet to be submitted. Details of how to submit records can be found here.
34.004 [B&F: 0898] Limnaecia phragmitella Stainton, 1851 - Common
Common in fens, marshes and freshwater margins throughout the British Isles, but not in northern Scotland. Fairly widely distributed across Hampshire but perhaps under-recorded, and decidedly uncommon on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 16-22 mm. Rather difficult to assign to a family, perhaps, but once known, the species is easy enough to identify. Larva feeds within flowering spikes of Bulrush and Lesser Bulrush.
Records prior to 2021
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 21 | 27 | 1995 | 2020 |
| 11 | 206 | 275 | 1975 | 2020 |
| 12 | 65 | 114 | 1988 | 2020 |
2021 records
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Records by year
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)
Record Details
VC10: Totland, two, 24 Jul; one, 26 Jul (RTer); Freshwater, one, 13 Jul (DCoo); Afton Marsh, one, 03 Jul (PBar);
VC11: Totton, one, 18 Jul (LHan); Botley Wood, one, 13 Aug (MLO, ADT, DWal, KJW)
34.008 [B&F: 0896a] Cosmopterix scribaiella Zeller, 1850 - Nationally Scarce A
Nationally scarce (Na) and restricted in Britain to alder carr and reed-beds in Hampshire and neighbouring counties. Almost exclusively coastal in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 10-11 mm. Differs from the less frequent C. zieglerella, C. schmidiella and C. orichalcea by the basal area on the forewing with four narrow longitudinal white lines (MBGBI Vol 4 part 1). Larva mines leaves of Common Reed.
Records prior to 2021
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 29 | 85 | 2006 | 2020 |
| 11 | 126 | 122 | 1997 | 2020 |
| 12 | 6 | 6 | 2010 | 2019 |
2021 records
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 12 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Records by year
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)
Record Details
VC10: Shanklin, one, 25 Sep (IOut);
VC11: Woodlands, NF, present, 02 Jul (RBW); Totton, one, 30 Jun (LHan);
VC12: Blackwater, two, 26 Jun (BDal)
34.009 [B&F: 0896b] Cosmopterix pulchrimella Chambers, 1875 - Nationally Scarce A
Nationally scarce (Na) wherever the foodplant is found, around farm buildings, on old walls and in urban areas from Hampshire to the Isles of Scilly. First recorded in Britain at Walditch, Dorset on 13 October 2001, thereafter rapidly colonising southern England. Previously known from the Channel Islands and southern Europe, from where the British population is presumed to have originated, most likely arriving in this country as immigrants. In Hampshire recorded for the first time in 2007 at Portchester Castle, and on the Isle of Wight from several sites from 2006 onwards; it has been expanding in range since and was reported new for North Hampshire in 2022. Wingspan 6.5-9 mm. Larva mines leaves of Pellitory-of-the-wall, preferring plants growing in the shade.
Records prior to 2021
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 54 | 1212 | 2006 | 2020 |
| 11 | 64 | 2009 | 2007 | 2020 |
2021 records
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 16 | 20 | 3 |
| 11 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Records by year
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)
Record Details
VC10: Totland, one, 31 Aug; one, 02 Sep; one, 25 Sep; one, 01 Oct; three, 22 Oct (RTer); Freshwater, one, 18 Sep; one, 01 Oct; one, 07 Oct; one, 08 Oct; one, 13 Oct; one, 15 Oct; one, 25 Oct; one, 13 Nov; two, 14 Nov (DCoo); Wheelers Bay, one, 26 Sep (ABut); Bonchurch, two, field observation, found close to Pellitory-of-the-wall, 08 Sep (IOut);
VC11: Fareham, one, 11 Sep; one, 18 Sep; one, 22 Sep (MLO); Portsmouth, one, 07 Oct; one, 24 Oct (IRT);
VC12: New Vice-county Record: Farnborough, one, 02 Jun (KBW)
34.010 [B&F: 0897] Cosmopterix lienigiella Lienig & Zeller, 1846 - Nationally Scarce B
Nationally scarce (Nb) in reed-beds throughout south-eastern England. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight mainly confined to the coast and recorded inland in recent years only from the Leckford estate. Wingspan 10-13 mm. Similar to the other British Cosmopterix species, but yellowish brown, where the other species are black and orange. Larva mines leaves of Common Reed, over-wintering in a cocoon.
Records prior to 2021
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 24 | 100 | 1977 | 2020 |
| 11 | 16 | 25 | 1982 | 2017 |
| 12 | 2 | 0 | 1988 | 2003 |
2021 records
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
Records by year
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)
Record Details
VC10: Afton Marsh, five, 03 Jul (PBar)