Hantsmoths

Common in gardens, woodland and parkland throughout much of Britain. Thoroughly naturalised, through accidental introduction in garden plants, the first British record of this adventive species was in Essex in 1989, since when it has spread rapidly northwards to Yorkshire. It was first discovered in Hampshire in early 1998, but probably under-recorded in the county and on the Isle of Wight, where the extent of known records correlate with those areas in which the recording effort is concentrated. Wingspan 6.5-8.5 mm. Imago fairly regular at light, but just as likely to be recorded in the larval stage, when mines are relatively easy to find where they are present. Larva mines leaves of Firethorn, Hawthorn, Apple, Rowan and Whitebeam.