Last modified: Feb. 27, 2024, 10:21 a.m.
First observation for Belgium in 1997 in LX, second approved observation in 2020 in LX.
Native
Wingspan 17–21 mm. Very similar to Psoricoptera gibbosella, but it has the forewing more blackish coloured and has occasionally brownish areas.
The larva of Psoricoptera speciosella looks very similar of Psoricoptera gibbosella but both larvae seem to vary in a similar way. The larva of Psoricoptera speciosella has in many cases a paler anal plate than Psoricoptera gibbosella, but both larvae of the two species cannot safely separated, but usually prefer different host plants.
The larva lives in spun leaves on the host plant. The adults become active around dusk and later come to light.
The adults are usually on the wing from early August till September. The first Belgian individual was captured late June.
It inhabits mixed forests, also in wet meadows colonized by willows.