Hantsmoths

Common in gardens, orchards, woodland and moorland throughout much of the British Isles, more numerous in the north. In Hampshire there are scattered records from the mainland, but very rare on the Isle of Wight, where the only record dates from 1997. Wingspan 9-10 mm. Most similar to P. alpicola, but the white frons, usually immaculate white labial palpus and the less heavily marked forewing help to distinguish P. scoticella. Bivoltine in southern England. Imagos recorded at light require dissection for confirmed identification. More frequently recorded in the larval stage, when mines are relatively easy to find where they are present. Larva mines leaves of Rowan, Whitebeam and Apple, subsequently living within a leaf-fold, over-wintering as a pupa in a cocoon.