Tineidae

12.020 Variegated Fungus Moth Nemapogon variatella (Clemens, 1859)

pRDB3

Similar species:

Forewing: 5 to 6.5mm

Habitats: Deciduous woodland, houses, foodstores.

Habits: The moth has been recorded once at M.V. light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds in bracket fungi such as Beefsteak Fungus Fistulina hepatica, Birch Polypore Fomitopsis betulina, dead wood and occasionally stored vegetable products and grain. The larva makes holes at the edge of the fungus, extruding white frass that becomes trapped in the slight spinning.