Bryotropha affinis

Bryotropha affinis is a moth of the family Gelechiidae.^[1][2][3] It is found in most of Europe.^[1][2]

A piece of moss showing frass thrown out by the larva

Larva

Bryotropha affinis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Gelechiidae
Genus:	Bryotropha
Species:	B. affinis
Binomial name
Bryotropha affinis (Haworth, 1828)[1]
Synonyms
Recurvaria affinis Haworth, 1828 Gelechia tegulella Herrich-Schäffer, 1854 Gelechia tectella Herrich-Schäffer, 1854 Gelechia affinella Doubleday, 1859 Anacampsoides affinitella Bruand d'Uzelle, 1859

The wingspan is 9–12 mm.^[2][4] The terminal joint of palpi longer than second. Forewings dark fuscous, sprinkled with whitish; a yellow-whitish basal dot; usually a small black spot in disc towards base; stigmata black, plical followed and two discal connected by yellow-whitish scales; a fine obtusely angulated sometimes interrupted yellowish-white fascia at 3/4. Hindwings light grey. Larva pinkish, paler on each side of dorsal line, darker-marbled on sides; dots black, very inconspicuous; head and plate of 2 black. Stainton’s confinis seems to be a dark northern form.^[5][6][7][8]

Adults are on wing from June to July in the UK,^[9] and from May to September more generally.^[2] The larvae feed on mosses on walls and thatch in both open country and urban areas.^[2]