Moth name search:
UKMoths: your guide to the moths of Great Britain and Ireland

192 Pachythelia villosella

(Ochsenheimer, 1810)

Larval case
Pachythelia villosella (Larval case)

Larval case

Veluwe, Netherlands

(Photo © )

Larval case

Veluwe, Netherlands

(Photo © )

192 Pachythelia villosella

More images

Larval case
Larval case
Show Map

192 Pachythelia villosella

(Ochsenheimer, 1810)

Wingspan 22-25 mm.

The larvae of the Psychidae are quite unusual in that they live their entire lives in a larval 'case' built from debris.

The adult male is a dull brownish-grey moth, but the female is apterous, or wingless, and has much reduced legs, looking rather like a yellowish grub.

This is a rare and threatened species in Britain, occurring only on heathland in Dorset and Hampshire.

The males fly in the sunshine during June and July.

UKMoths is sponsored by Anglian Lepidopterist Supplies and Birdguides.com