11.011 BF188

Proutia betulina

(Zeller, 1839)

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Wingspan (male): c.12 mm.

The males of this species are, like many Psychids, plain dark brown with bipectinate antennae. The females are also typical of the genus, being apterous and living entirely in the larval case.

In Britain it is restricted to areas of the south-east of England, but occurs more widely in continental Europe.

The larva builds a case from pieces of vegetable matter such as bark, and feeds on such things as lichen and decaying leaves.