Agriphila selasella

• Subfamily: Crambinae
• Wingspan: 20-30 mm
• Flight period: Jul - Aug
• Spread:Common
• Host plants: Poaceae

Information

The Agriphila selasella is a moth of the Crambidae family, subfamily Crambinae, with a wingspan of 20-30 mm.
It is visible in most of Europe, with the exception of Slovenia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Albania. In Italy it is also present in the islands. *

The front wing is of hazelnut color crossed longitudinally by a white band without narrowing that divides in two, in a not very evident way, along the veins near the edge. The front wings are slightly fringed
The hind wings are translucent white in color and may have faint tan shades towards the edge. They too are fringed.

Very similar to the congener Agriphila tristella which shows a white / yellowish median stripe with a 1/3 to 1/2 narrowing from the base of the wing and 4 prominent terminal "fingers" and a trace of a subterminal line, while Agriphila selasella typically shows a white median stripe of fairly constant width with 2 indistinct terminal "fingers" and no trace of a subterminal line. **

It is often associated with coastal habitats, although not exclusively, it prefers marshy soils and wet meadows. The flight period is July and August and is attracted to artificial light. The larvae live in silk tunnels, usually at the base of the host plants.

The larvae feed on Poaceae such as the stems of Festuca ovina, Glyceria sp. and Poa sp. and various other herbs


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** British Lepidoptera https://britishlepidoptera.weebly.com/