Hantsmoths

Common in allotments, market gardens, farmland and rough ground throughout much of Britain, more numerous in the south; rare in Ireland. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight until recently a familiar sight in garden peas but now quite rare in some areas. Wingspan 12-16 mm. Distinguished by the overall uniform brown or grey-brown appearance of the forewing, which is finely irrorate with pale ochreous distally and has a poorly developed ocellus and usually conspicuous costal strigulae and interspaces; in the hindwing the white or cream-white cilia are characteristic and contrast strongly with the dark fuscous coloration of the wing; the male is further distinguished by the presence of a dorsal fold along the inner margin [Bradley]. Larva feeds within pods of Pea, Sweet Pea and Common Vetch, causing sufficient damage to be a serious pest in some areas, over-wintering in a silken chamber.