Hantsmoths

Local in pine woodland and plantations throughout much of the British Isles, except for the Northern Isles. Probably under-recorded in Hampshire, where the extent of known records correlate with those areas in which the recording effort is concentrated; there have been no recent records from the New Forest. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight since 1900. Wingspan 12-15 mm. When worn, resembles several other gelechiids, from which only reliably separated by dissection of the genitalia. Larva feeds within needles of Scots Pine, Corsican Pine and Maritime Pine, subsequently living within a silken web, causing sufficient damage to be a serious pest in some areas.