Hantsmoths

Common in woodland throughout much of the British Isles, but more plentiful in the south. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight widespread and common. Wingspan 7-8 mm. Imago similar to P. stettinensis, P. tristrigella, P. froelichiella and, especially, P. kleemannella. P. kleemannella and P. nicellii are two of the more difficult of the group to distinguish. P. kleemannella has a deeper orange ground colour, the fasciae are more shining and often bordered inwardly by a broad band of deep coppery brown rather than the brown irroration of P. nicellii; the first pair of strigulae rarely meet. In P. nicellii the first pair of strigulae often touch, forming a third angulated fascia (MBGBI Vol 2). Imago seldom encountered at light, and more likely to be recorded in the larval stage, when mines are relatively easy to find where they are present. Larva mines leaves of Hazel, over-wintering as a pupa in a cocoon.