Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella

Grass-veneer moths are "rolled-up" moths with long snouts that, although night-flying, are easily disturbed from their grass habitat during the day. The Garden Grass-veneer, Chrysoteuchia culmella, (the common name not widely used) is a common example.

It is an overall cone shape and has the silver edge-fringe of many grass-veneers preceded with dark dots. The background is grey-light brown, often with a sheen, and with a stripey appearance. There is always the brown line in a sideways V shape (or "less than" symbol) bordering a similar silvery white shape towards the rear of the wing. It is well-camouflaged in dead vegetation.

Its UK flight time is mainly Jun-Jul but can be May-Sep. Its wingspan, rarely seen, is some 20mm. More useful for a rolled-up grass veneer is its length 11-15mm.