Skin Moth - Monopis laevigella

Wingspan 13 to 20 mm. A rather drab looking brown or blackish moth with mottled patterning on the wings.

Various habitats and sometimes found near bird's nests.

The adults can be found on the wing from dusk onwards from May through to September, and may have two generations in the south.

Larvae from December to March feeding on a range of animal origin foodstuffs, such as dead animals, owl pellets and detritus in birds' nests.

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

It appears to be uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, where there are few records. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).