Hantsmoths

Nationally scarce (Nb) on dry grassland and golf courses from Hampshire to Essex. In Hampshire, absent from much of the centre of the county, but relatively common in the north-east and south, where a notable site is Sandy Point on Hayling Island. On the Isle of Wight very intermittently recorded, with just one record every ten years on average. Wingspan 20-30 mm. The main confusion species, P. aridella, and P. contaminella both share characteristic resting posture with head down and abdomen pointing obliquely upwards, but P. aridella is more obviously streaked longitudinally. Larva feeds on stems and leaves of grasses such as Sheep's-fescue, living within a silken tube.