Hantsmoths

Common in woodland, gardens, orchards and parks throughout much of England and Wales, becoming more local northwards to southern Scotland. Locally common in Hampshire, where cases are found most often on old trunks of hawthorn, oak and yew. Recorded on the Isle of Wight in 1893 and 1950, but not since. Wingspan male 9-12 mm, female 7-10 mm. The adult moths are seen occasionally, but most records are of larval cases. Larva feeds on lichens growing on tree trunks and fence posts, living within a movable case.