Hantsmoths

Common in grassland and rough meadows throughout the British Isles. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 25-30 mm. Quite variable in ground colour, but consistently marked, with the main confusion species being A. selasella, from which differs as follows: A. tristella has a distinct facial cone, besides having traces of a subterminal line and yellow or creamy, never white, median longitudinal streak; termen more rounded, less square than in A. selasella; the forewing of A. selasella has a distinctly smoother texture than that of A. tristella [Goater]. Larva feeds within lower stems of various grasses, living within a silken gallery at the base of the plant.