Species Details

ABH: 35.046

BF: 782

Family: Gelechiidae

Subfamily: Anomologinae

Taxon: Bryotropha senectella

Authority: (Zeller, 1839)

Vernacular: Grizzled Moss-moth

Account: Local in urban areas, old buildings and rocky areas throughout the British Isles, except for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland The brown colour and the dark line running over the vertex of the head distinguish B. senectella from similar looking species, but very dark forms resemble B. similis; in case of doubt, they can be separated by the pale yellow labial palpus and frons of B. senectella (creamy white in B. similis). Larva feeds on various mosses, living within a silken tube or tent.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 9 — 13 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 6 Jul (2013) — 20 Aug (2008)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Musci.

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Local

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 2 — Care needed to identify 🤔
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/bryotropha-senectella/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 22

Individuals: 12

Earliest Year: 2005

Latest Year: 2025

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