35.079 Oxypteryx wilkella Copyright Martin Evans
 35.079 Oxypteryx wilkella Copyright Martin Evans
 Distribution map Copyright Martin Evans
 Life stages table Copyright Martin Evans  35.079 Oxypteryx wilkella Copyright Martin Evans

Gelechiidae

35.079 Silver-barred Moss-moth Oxypteryx wilkella (Linnaeus, 1758)

Notable B

Similar species:

Forewing: 4 to 5mm

Habitats: Coastal shingle beaches and sand-dunes, inland breckland and sand quarries.

Habits: The moth is occasionally disturbed in the day. It comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on Sand-hill Screw-moss Syntrichia ruralis ruraliformis, Great Plait-moss Hypnum lacunosum var. lacunosum and Broom Fork-moss Dicranum scoparium. Depending on the depth and species of moss, it constructs a sloping to almost upright whitish silk tube, spattered with moss fragments and reaching almost to the surface of the moss. It pupates amongst the moss in a frass covered cocoon.