Elbow-striped grass-veneer
This small grass moth is named for the sharply bent, elbow-shaped cross lines on its forewings, a pattern that sets it apart from its close relatives.
| Where | Dry grassland and coastal sand dunes |
|---|---|
| Size | 20 to 26 mm wingspan |
| When | August to September |
The Elbow-striped Grass-veneer has cream to pale brown forewings dusted with darker scales and crossed by two strongly angled, elbow-shaped lines, with a metallic silver sheen along the wing margin.
Adults fly from August to September over dry grassland, sand dunes and other short, grassy ground. Caterpillars live in a silken gallery at the base of fine grasses, feeding on species such as sheep's fescue.
Traits
Habitat
Grassland
Colour
Brown, Grey
Active
Night
To people
Harmless to people; it rests low in grass by day and comes to light after dark.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Slightly larger at 22 to 30 mm wingspan, with straighter cross lines rather than the sharply elbowed lines that identify the Elbow-striped Grass-veneer.
Questions
Is the Elbow-striped grass-veneer dangerous to people?
Harmless to people; it rests low in grass by day and comes to light after dark.
When can you see the Elbow-striped grass-veneer?
The Elbow-striped grass-veneer can be seen from August to September, at night.
Plate retouched from a photo by Ben Sale from Stevenage, UK, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons Licence
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Butterflies and moths›Grass moths›Agriphila
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.