Hantsmoths

Nationally scarce (Nb) in woodland and freshwater margins in small, isolated colonies in south-eastern and central southern England, as far north as Shropshire; Perthshire (MBGBI Vol 3). In Hampshire apparently restricted to Pamber Common Hook Common and Fleet in the north, and Hookheath Meadows NR in the south. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 12-13 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 Alder, living within a movable case, over-wintering twice in some areas.

VC11 South Hampshire

VC12 North Hampshire