2021 Annual Report for: Pyralidae / Galleriinae

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is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species.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.

62.001 [B&F: 1428] Bee Moth Aphomia sociella (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

Common around bee and wasp nests and in beehives throughout Britain. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 25-38 mm. Highly sexually dimorphic, the distinctive male is unmistakable, but the female is superficially similar to the much narrower-winged Melissoblaptes zelleri, a species confined to sandhills in a very few locations in south-eastern England. Larva feeds on the debris in, and contents of, wasp and bee nests.

Records prior to 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1057885218562020
114912647919512020
121800294719512020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10691076
112493439
121181759

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Totland, 20 Jun, 1 (RTer) Latest: Nettlestone, 17 Jun, 1 (JHam) Max count: Shanklin, 02 Jul, 6 (IOut)

VC11: Earliest: Ashley Heath, 16 Jul, 1 (SDut) Latest: Pennington, 19 Jul, 1 (RFC) Max count: Lyndhurst, 17 Jul, 9 (TLoc)

VC12: Earliest: Over Wallop, 14 Aug, 1 (CMap) Latest: Farnborough, 18 Jul, 1 (KBW) Max count: Basingstoke, 07 Jun, 9 (JEH)

62.005 [B&F: 1426] Lesser Wax Moth Achroia grisella (Fabricius, 1794) - Local

Local throughout much of the British Isles, except for Scotland. Less common than previously due to improvements in bee-keeping practices. Most records originate from the southern third of Hampshire, particularly along the Test and Solent, and quite scarce in the north of the county; since 2010, recorded annually in the Isle of Wight where it was previously virtually unknown. Wingspan 16-24 mm. The characteristic shape, yellow head and absence of wing-markings facilitate identification [Goater]. Larva feeds on beeswax, dead insects and dried fruit; can be a pest of beehives.

Records prior to 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10242619522020
1116013819512020
12293119512020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10111
11771
12441

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: Totland, one, 22 Jul (RTer);

VC11: Totton, one, 14 Jul; one, 15 Jul; one, 11 Aug (LHan); Romsey, one, 17 Jul (NRJ); Fareham, one, to light, 11 Sep (KJW); Botley, one, 18 Jul (SLB); West Walk, one, 24 Sep (RJD, MLO, ADT, KJW);

VC12: Great Haughurst Copse, Axmansford, one, 20 Aug (ACB); Pamber Forest, one, 16 Jun (GJD); Whitehill, one, 15 Jul; one, 19 Jul (ASto)

62.006 [B&F: 1425] Wax Moth Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

Common around beehives throughout England and Ireland. Widespread in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 30-41 mm. Larva constructs, and feeds within, galleries in honeycombs.

Records prior to 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10757918562020
1168860219452020
1220125719512020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10111
1163662
1213121

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: Shanklin, one, 20 Jul (IOut);

VC11: Marchwood, one, 07 Sep (TDCh); one, 16 Jun; one, 15 Jul; one, 24 Jul; one, 26 Jul; one, 13 Aug; one, 15 Aug; one, 21 Aug; one, 06 Sep; one, 08 Sep (CTha); Totton, one, 16 Jul; two, 18 Jul; one, 20 Jul; one, 21 Jul; one, 22 Jul; one, 11 Aug; one, 12 Aug; one, 13 Aug; one, 14 Aug; one, 15 Aug; one, 16 Aug; two, 02 Sep; two, 03 Sep; one, 04 Sep; one, 05 Sep; one, 06 Sep; two, 07 Sep; one, 14 Sep (LHan); Lee, nr Nursling, one, 03 Sep (CTha); Woodley, one, 14 Jul (NBin); Ashley, one, 04 Sep; one, 08 Oct; one, 08 Oct (GCE); Swaythling, Southampton, one, 19 Aug; one, 17 Sep; one, 19 Sep (MEdg); Valley Park, Chandlers Ford, one, 02 Jul; one, 14 Jul; one, 13 Aug (KArb); Winchester, present, 28 Aug (THW); Brownwich cliffs, one, 16 Jul (MLO, RJD, KJW det. RJD); Lee-on-Solent, one, 16 Aug; one, 18 Aug (IHrg); Fareham, one, 10 Aug (ADT); one, 16 Aug; one, 04 Sep; one, 05 Sep; one, 06 Sep (MLO); one, 13 Jul; one, to light, 19 Aug; one, to light, 20 Aug; one, to light, 04 Sep; one, to light, 06 Sep; one, to light, 09 Sep (KJW); Botley, one, 15 Jul; one, 22 Jul; one, 30 Jul; one, 01 Sep; one, 07 Sep; one, 12 Jun; one, 05 Sep (SLB); Portsmouth, one, 11 Aug (IRT); West Walk, one, 24 Sep (RJD, MLO, ADT, KJW);

VC12: Chilbolton, one, 27 Jul; Crawley, one, 14 Sep; one, 14 Sep; Little Somborne, one, 03 Sep; Crawley, one, 07 Sep (GCE); Harestock, one, 01 Aug (GRog); Hinton Ampner, one, 21 Jul (ASD); Alton, one, 06 Sep (BCA); one, 01 Sep (NDP); one, 19 Sep (CJP); South Warnborough, present, 01 Jul (E&PR); Farnborough, one, 10 Jul (MThop); one, 18 Jul (KBW)