Hantsmoths

Nationally scarce (Na) on acid grassland and downland in parts of Britain, but not in the south-east, more numerous in the north and southern Ireland. Not recorded in Hampshire or on the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 17-24 mm. Very difficult to distinguish from A. paleana; the male of A. unitana can almost invariably be recognised by the characteristic silver-grey coloration of the forewing and the whitish cilia, and the absence of orange-yellow suffusion in the basal area of the forewing and on the thorax; the female is usually more robust than that of A. paleana, the forewing being relatively broad and less attenuated, showing less marked sexual dimorphism [Bradley]. Larva polyphagous on various herbaceous plants, living within a spun or rolled leaf.