Hantsmoths

Nationally scarce (Nb) in waste ground and dry open areas throughout much of southern England and Wales, rare elsewhere. In south Hampshire, the population is mainly centred around Botley Wood with outlying records from Queen Elizabeth Country Park and St Catherine's Hill HWT reserve, while in the north of the county, there are records from Micheldever Wood, Wildhern and Abbotstone Down. Reported new for the Isle of Wight in 2022. Wingspan 10-13 mm. Can be separated with care from Monochroa tenebrella, in which segment 3 of the labial palpus is shorter than segment 2, and, in the female, the apical third of the antenna is white. Larva feeds within stems of Perforate St John's-wort.