17.014 BF251

Ochsenheimeria taurella

([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

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Wingspan 11-12 mm.

A rather distinctive species, with the thickened hairy base to the antennae, and noticeably erect scales on the forewing giving rise to a generally shaggy appearance.

It is well-distributed throughout England and Wales, as well as Ireland, but rather unobtrusive and probably overlooked.

The adults appear between July and September, and fly in the early afternoon sunshine.

The larvae mine the stems of various coarse grasses, including cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata) and meadow-grass (Poa spp.)