Agriphila geniculea

Wingspan 20-25 mm. The strongly elbowed cross-lines generally serve to distinguish this moth, but on some specimens the lines are obscure.

It is an inhabitant of dry, grassy areas, sand-dunes and similar locations.

It flies from July to October.

The larva, found from late September to early May, inhabits a flimsy silken gallery mixed with pale frass at the base of small grasses. Sometimes it leaves the gallery and is found curled tightly in a characteristic coil round a thin stem. Short fine grass species, such as Sheep's-fescue are preferred.

Fairly common over much of Britain, but numbers decrease further north. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

Fairly frequent but not common in Leicestershire & Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = B (scarce resident or restricted distribution or regular migrant)