Hantsmoths

Common in woodland, orchards and gardens in southern England and Wales, rare elsewhere in the British Isles. Probably under-recorded in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight, where the extent of known records correlate with those areas in which the recording effort is concentrated. Wingspan 6-8.5 mm. Similar to P. hostis, from which only reliably separated by dissection of the genitalia. Imago fairly regular at light, but more frequently recorded in the larval stage, when mines are relatively easy to find where they are present. Larva mines leaves of Crab Apple and Apple, over-wintering as a pupa in a cocoon.