Elbow-striped Grass-veneer

Appearance

The wingspan is 20–26 mm. The forewings usually show two strongly curved cross-lines, but sometimes these lines are not visible.




This species is very similar to ''Agriphila tolli'' and ''Agriphila inquinatella''. It can be distinguished from the first on the basis of the higher distance that separates said cross-lines. Moreover, in ''A. geniculea'' the forewings are crossed by a couple of chevrons, while ''A. inquinatella'' is longitudinally variably streaked.

Naming

* ''Agriphila geniculea geniculea''
⤷  ''Agriphila geniculea andalusiella''

Distribution

This species can be found in most of Europe and parts of North Africa. It usually occurs in dry pastures, grassy area, sand-dunes, gardens and grassland.

Behavior

The species has one generation. The moth flies at dusk from July to October depending on the location. When disturbed they come to light. The larvae can be found from late September to early May, as they winter in the larval stage. They feed within stems of ''Festuca ovina'' and various other grasses. They inhabit silken galleries, camouflaged with excrement, at the base of small grasses. Sometimes they leave these galleries and curl themselves tightly in a coil along the stem-bases of grasses.

Habitat

This species can be found in most of Europe and parts of North Africa. It usually occurs in dry pastures, grassy area, sand-dunes, gardens and grassland.