Hantsmoths

Local on calcareous grassland, mainly in southern England, but sparingly northwards to Easter Ross; rare in Ireland. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight formerly locally common on downland, but now much reduced and intermittent in appearance. Wingspan 10-12 mm. Similar to P. schwarzella, but differs in its smaller wingspan, the perpendicular position of the second silver spot on the tornus of the forewing and in both sexes by the broad white subapical section of the antenna (MBGBI Vol 4 part 1). Larva mines petioles of Hairy Violet and Common Dog-violet, subsequently living in the roots and feeding on the bark, over-wintering as a pupa.