Hantsmoths

Common in pine woodland and areas with scattered pines throughout the British Isles, more numerous in Scotland. Widespread and common in Hampshire. Recorded on the Isle of Wight for the first, and so far only, time at Freshwater in 1985. Wingspan 15-19 mm. The main confusion species is Pine Resin-gall Moth Retinia resinella, which differs in the ferruginous-brown general coloration of the forewing and the lighter hindwings with grey cilia [Bradley], but note that R. resinella is largely absent from southern England. Larva feeds within needles and young shoots of Scots Pine, subsequently burrowing into and feeding on developing buds.