Agriphila tristella Complex Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella

Grass-veneer moths are "rolled-up" moths with long snouts that, although night-flying, are easily disturbed from their grass habitat during the day. Agriphila tristella is sometimes called the Common Grass-veneer but the common name is not widely used or recognised. Its most distinctive feature is a white or off-white longways streak which narrows before branching into four tributaries. The forewing corner is slightly chamfered/obtuse.

Its UK flight time is Jun-Sep. One of the larger grass veneers, its wingspan, rarely seen, is some 25-28mm. More useful for a rolled-up moth is its length 15-19mm. Those above are also thought to be Ag. tristella in daytime and night-time overhead views, particularly as the light streak narrows before splitting, but the one above right is unclear.

Above may also be Ag. tristella since the strength of markings is variable and the white streak narrows before splitting, or it may be Agriphila selasella, the Pale-streak Grass-veneer, a similar moth with a paler background, a less-conical, more tubular body shape, right-angled forewing corners and, crucially, only two, less obvious, white branches (there seem to be three above?).

Above is thought to be the Pale-streak Grass-veneer, Agriphila selasella, with its fairly uniform-thickness white streak and two branches. Flight Jun-Aug; length 14-19mm.

The Straw Grass-veneer, Agriphila straminella is a common, straw-coloured grass-veneer with a cone-shaped body and some light streaking and/or brown mottling. Markings are variable. The male is slightly darker and the female has more pleated stripes. Like many grass-veneers, there are dark dots before the silver fringe. (Flight Jun-Sep; length 9-13mm.)

Above may also be Ag. tristella since the streak can be off-white/unclear and there appear to be four lighter branches. It could instead be the Straw Grass-veneer, Agriphila straminella?

There are many other grass veneer moths, mainly in the Crambus genus, in the UK that are similar to Agriphila tristella, selasella, straminella, including:
Crambus lathoniellus (thick, angular white bar), C. pascuella (thick, less-angular, white bar), C. silvella (rounder white streak), C. uliginosellus (bigger white streak), C. hamella (darker moth, longer streak), C. pratella (darker moth, angular streak), and C. ericella (darker moth, thinner streak, northern moors habitat).