Hantsmoths

Common in woodland and hedgerows throughout much of Britain, but not in northern Scotland. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight fairly well distributed, but perhaps under-recorded in north Hampshire away from the M3 corridor and in the New Forest. Wingspan 8 mm. Similar to P. acerifoliella and P. platanoidella, but differs in having the second chevron sharply angled with its apex extended as a dark-bordered yellow line to the third chevron; the rudimentary first chevron at the base of the wing contains more yellowish brown scales than either of the other two species (MBGBI Vol 2). Imago relatively uncommon 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 Sycamore, over-wintering as a pupa in a cocoon.