Gold Triangle - Hypsopygia costalis

Wingspan 16-23 mm. This beautiful little moth has two distinctly different resting postures. In one, the moth adopts a 'triangular' shape, with the hindwings hidden by the forewings. At full rest, all four wings are splayed out and the tip of the abdomen is tilted upward.

Species is found in gardens, woodlands and farmland.

The nocturnal adults fly in July and August.

The larvae feed in dry vegetable matter, such as haystacks and thatch.

Reasonably common in the southern half of Britain at least. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = A (common and resident)