Hantsmoths

Local in gardens and farmland throughout much of southern England. An outdoor species compared to other Ephestia species recorded in Britain, except E. elutella, which tend to be very rare pests of warehouses and stored food. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight widespread and common, but being nondescript, it is almost certainly under-recorded. Wingspan 14-20 mm. One of six very similar species of Ephestia found in the UK, which are reliably separable only by dissection of the genitalia: however the overwhelming majority of wild-caught individuals that have been critically examined have proved to be the current species, with the other five species being very rare or favouring warehouses. Larva feeds on detritus, dead leaves and dry vegetable matter.

Renamed woodiella (Richards & Thomson, 1932) in the ABH 2019 UK checklist update. Formerly known as Ephestia parasitella spp. unicolorella, it was then raised to specific status as Ephestia unicolorella. In Leraut (2014) the species was split into three, with unicolorella being listed as a distinct species known only from Turkey and Spain. Records previously assigned to parasitella or unicolorella are amalgamated here.

Update: January 2021 (taxonomy)