Morley’s Final Catalogue: A local species, apparently confined to the coast with us: Plentiful at Felixstow in 1901 (Pyett); Hemley in 1902 (Wir); Lowestoft before 1890 (Bd) and later (Ent. 1922, 258).

Recent Status: A species of dry grassland that can be common on heath and Breck. Commoner than in Morley’s time and reportedly expanding its range nationally.

Life Style: The species flies during summer and has a partial second generation that appears in early autumn. The moth flies at night and comes to light. The larvae feed on grasses from silken vertical tubes. Pupation is in a sand covered cocoon

Identification: Pediasia contaminella is characterised by its resting position, when not disturbed, being head down tail up, looking like it has crash landed. The wings are held close to the body such that they are close together beyond the abdomen. The species is not strongly patterned and is very variable. The veins are often paler. There are median and sub-terminal lines that are not always evident. The sub-terminal line when clear is indent at every vein. This character separates it from similar Grass Moths.

Recorded in 40 (69%) of 58 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1901. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

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