Hantsmoths

Local in woodland, gardens, parks, marshes and other damp areas throughout much of England, with records north to southern Scotland. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight apart from obvious population centres around Leckford and Portsmouth, only scattered records elsewhere. Wingspan 4.6-6 mm. Imago closely resembles S. salicis, but is slightly smaller, the basal half of the forewing is more coarsely scaled, the fascia is narrower, angled, more central and less oblique and the line before the pale cilia is darker and more regular (MBGBI Vol 1). Best recorded in the larval stage, which mines the leaves of Crack Willow, White Willow and Osier in late summer and autumn.