Hantsmoths

Common in damp woodland throughout much of Britain, but in Ireland known only from the Burren. Probably under-recorded in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight, where the extent of known records correlate with those areas in which the recording effort is concentrated. Wingspan 9-10 mm. Imago similar to P. stettinensis, P. tristrigella, P. nicellii and P. kleemannella, but is by far the largest species in the group, its copper-brown ground colour is characteristic, it has the narrowest and most sharply defined black edging to the white markings and the first pair of strigulae are smoothly curved distad with their apices almost touching to form an acute- or right-angled chevron (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 Alder, over-wintering as a pupa in a cocoon.