Tinea semifulvella

Alternative names
Orange-tipped Nest Moth
Fulvous Clothes Moth
Description

Wingspan 14 to 22 mm. Perhaps the most colourful of the British Tineidae, and one of the largest. With a striking orange head and a large orangey area on the wings, which are otherwise greyish white with a slight sheen.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Various habitats.

When to see it

The adults fly nocturnally between May and September and are often found in light traps.

Life History

The larvae feed in birds' nests and on woollen remains, such as sheep's wool.

UK Status

This species is fairly frequent over most of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

VC55 Status

Fairly frequent but not common in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = B (scarce resident or restricted distribution or regular migrant).

Reference
12.032 BF246

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Fulvous Clothes
Species group:
insect - moth
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Tineidae
Records on NatureSpot:
57
First record:
01/01/1998 (Adrian Russell)
Last record:
07/10/2025 (Ryder Hurn)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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