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Ground-moss Grey Eudonia truncicolella

The Ground-moss Grey is very hard to tell apart from various related Pyralids, all small, black and white and similarly marked. There are even more species just like these, but they are rare or even very rare. Characteristics for the three species are as follows:

The black spot resembling an x, usually looks like an x, just like it does in the Brown Grey. However in the Little Grey it does look more like a c. The wings of Brown Grey are broader than those of the other two species. The dark line just in front of the white is best developed in the Little Grey, less so in Brown Grey and least in the Ground-moss Grey. Compared to the Brown Grey the Ground-moss Grey is rather black and white lacking brownish tones so visible in the Brown Grey. The Ground-moss Grey doesn't fly in May and the first half of June, the Brown Grey however does.
Do keep in mind though that you can never be sure, for especially Brown Grey is very variable. The only way to tell them apart for sure is by examining the genitals. And when you are a beginner do take good pictures and present them to experienced microlepidopterists.

The Ground-moss Grey flies in July and August and the larvae can be found on various species of mosses. They live in a silken tube. The wingspan varies from 18 to 23 mm. It's locally common on mainland Britain and in Ireland.