Hantsmoths

Common in oak woodland and areas with scattered oaks throughout much of the British Isles, except for the Northern Isles. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight widespread and locally common to abundant, but perhaps declining. Wingspan 7-9 mm. Similar to P messaniella, in which the basal streak barely reaches middle of wing, terminating well before the apices of the first pair of strigulae. In P quercifoliella the apical streak extends to almost two-thirds and terminates slightly beyond the apices of the first pair of strigulae (MBGBI Vol 2). Imago fairly regular at light, but more frequently recorded in the larval stage, when mines are relatively easy to find where they are present. Larva mines leaves of deciduous oaks Quercus, over-wintering as a pupa in a cocoon.