Hantsmoths

Common in rough ground, damp meadows, heathland and fens throughout the British Isles. In Hampshire only regular in the south-east; extremely scarce on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 11-16 mm. The male of E. marginana can be distinguished from both sexes of E. gentianaeana and E. oblongana by its conspicuously white hindwings; the female is not so readily distinguished, having only the basal area of the hindwing paler. Both sexes can be usually separated from small specimens of E. gentianaeana by the narrow band of whitish ground colour beyond the median fascia of the forewing [Bradley]. Larva feeds within seedheads of Betony, Common Hemp-nettle, Lousewort and Yellow-rattle.