Hantsmoths

Local in heathland and birch woodland throughout much of England, southern Wales and western Ireland. In Hampshire fairly well-distributed in the north and south of the county, but apparently absent in central Hampshire east of Winchester. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 10-15 mm. Thoroughly confused with C. ibipennella in the past. Like many of the Coleophora, imagines are virtually impossible to identify without recourse to dissection, and the larvae, which live in cases of characteristic form and which can sometimes be found on the foodplant, may be easier to identify by comparison against a reference collection. Larva mines leaves of Birch, subsequently living within a movable pistol-case.