Hantsmoths

Nationally scarce (Nb) in woodland margins, woodland rides and heathland throughout much of southern England, with records north to Leicestershire. In Hampshire first recorded in the county from Havant Thicket in 1979, and since from Crab Wood, Emer Bog and Botley Wood in the south, and Pamber Forest, Fleet Pond and Blagden Lodge, Wildhern, in the north. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 7.5-10 mm. Like many of the Coleophora, imagines are virtually impossible to identify without recourse to dissection, and the larvae, which live in cases of characteristic form and which can sometimes be found on the foodplant, may be easier to identify by comparison against a reference collection. Larva mines leaves of Hazel and Downy Birch, living within a movable case.