Hantsmoths

Common in woodland and on heaths throughout most of Britain. Widely distributed and fairly common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan male 5.1-7.5 mm, female 5.7-8.4 mm. Imago separated from most Ectoedemia species by completely jet-black colour of thorax and forewings (except fascia, but including cilia) and from Stigmella species by collar, which consists of hair-scales (lamellar scales in Stigmella), and separated from the very similar E. minimella by presence of group of white scales on underside of forewing in male, and by light coloured head in female. Adults difficult to distinguish from other Ectoedemia species, and more frequently recorded in the larval stage, when mines are relatively easy to find where they are present. Larva mines leaves of Silver Birch and Downy Birch, over-wintering as a pupa.