Last modified: April 12, 2024, 7:03 p.m.
A common species throughout Belgium, since the earliest observations recorded from all provinces. Very often found indoors.
Native
Wingspan: 16–21 mm.
Head and thorax pure white; forewing ground colour greyish white, mottled with ochreous and dark grey scales; three small patches of dark brown scales in the costal area and a short vertical line of such scales in the postdiscal area.
Whitish, head and prothoracic plate brown.
The larva lives in a silken gallery mixed with frass and food-particles.
The eggs are oviposited on dead organic material.
The caterpillar feeds from a slilken gallery in which frass is used.
Pupation takes place in the feeding place of the larva.
This species can become very common and it is then regarded as a pest species. It can cause damage to all stored food products, but also wool, paper and even insect collections.
Two to four generations a year. The adults have been observed in all months of the year, observations during the winter months mainly indoors.
Dry vegetable matter, paper, rotten wood, fungus, dead insects, in birds' nests, in bee-hives, etc.
Houses, storage rooms, nests of birds, gardens.