A blade of grass with wings: The pale-streak grass-veneer

The pale-streak grass-veneer (Agriphila selasella) is a small grass-moth (family: Crambidae) with a wingspan of roughly 26 mm. It features smooth, sandy-brown wings marked by a distinctive white central streak that splits into two tiny “fingers” near the trailing edge. Active during July and August, this species prefers wet or damp habitats such as fens, marshes, and saltmarshes. When resting, it folds its wings tightly around its body, blending in seamlessly as a tiny piece of dry grass. Its caterpillars feed on various grasses, including common saltmarsh-grass and sheep’s fescue, building silk tubes close to the ground for shelter while feeding. I encountered this handsome little moth in a woodland area just a few blocks from my house in Barkarby, Sweden.

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