Hantsmoths

Found in farm buildings, barns, warehouses and granaries in Britain, and formerly widespread and probably not uncommon throughout much of lowland England; however in the 20th century was last recorded at Chiddingfold, Surrey on 3 June 1966 and was considered possibly extinct in the country. In recent years it has been re-found in a number of scattered locations, from Wales across to East Anglia and appears to be established in the Margate area, Kent. The reason for this increase in records is unknown, given that its decline was thought to coincide with the demise of traditional farming methods. In Hampshire, an old record given in Goater (1974) from Beaulieu Road, New Forest is considered to require confirmation.

Wingspan 10-14 mm. Larva feeds on detritus, dry vegetable matter, dead insects and similar.