Argyresthia semitestacella

Wingspan 11 to 14mm. One of the larger of the Argyresthia species. It has a relatively plain golden brown forewing with a whitish dorsal streak extending for much of the forewing length.

In areas where the larval foodplant, Beech is found.

It is quite a late flyer, being on the wing in August and September.

The larva feeds on the shoots of beech (Fagus), and can be found in May and June.

This species is distributed fairly widely but locally over much of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

It appears to be uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, where there are few records. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).