For species seen in 2023 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is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species.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 2023 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 2023, 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.
Recorded infrequently through accidental importation in bananas from the Canary Islands, Azores and Madeira. According to DEFRA's UK Plant Health Risk Register it is occasionally intercepted in the UK with some outbreaks in glasshouses: the first occurrence was in a large public glasshouse in the South East of England in July 2017 (Opogona sacchari found in the United Kingdom). First recorded in Hampshire in 2023, when one was found on a doorstep in Blackwater in October 2023.
According to Wikipedia, it is native to the humid tropical and subtropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa, where it is also found in Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues Island, the Seychelles and St. Helena. It was first reported from the Canary Islands in the 1920s and in the 1970s, spread to South and Central America, and also first appeared in Europe. It has been reported from Florida since 1986.
The wingspan is 18–25 mm. Adults are bright yellowish brown.
The larvae feed on a wide range of plants, including bananas, pineapples, bamboo, maize and sugarcane. In glasshouses in European countries, it has been found infesting various tropical or subtropical ornamentals.
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
|---|
| Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
VC12: New Vice-county Record: Blackwater*, one, field observation, 27 Oct (BGD)