Hantsmoths

Common in waste ground, shingle beaches and chalk downland throughout much of Britain. In Hampshire widespread and common but probably under-recorded, the extent of known records correlating with those areas in which the recording effort is concentrated. On the Isle of Wight, seemingly rather uncommon. Wingspan 12-17 mm. Readily distinguished from A. cnicana and A. rubigana by the narrower and more elongate forewing and the narrower median fascia which is more outward-oblique from the dorsum; in general appearance it somewhat resembles Cochylimorpha straminea but is distinguished by the presence of the well-developed fasciate pre-tornal marking [Bradley]. Larva feeds within seedheads of Yarrow and Common Knapweed.