Hantsmoths

Common wherever the foodplant occurs, throughout much of the British Isles, as far north as the Orkneys. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight widespread and recorded from numerous localities throughout. Wingspan 14-16 mm. Overwinters as an adult, often in an evergreen such as Yew. The summer generation is relatively small and may not occur in unfavourable years. Similar to C. betulicola, C. rufipennella and C. hemidactylella. The larva feeds on Alder, at first mining the leaves and feeding initially on sap, later on the parenchyma; later it spins part of a leaf into a cone and lives and feeds therein.