Status and Distribution
Local to very local, in sandy coastal areas throughout much of the British Isles. Rare in northern Scotland occuring as far north as the Orkney Isles. Inland records are rare and associated with dry sandy areas, such as The Brecks, or disused sand-pits although the only area with any records post 2000 inland is in East Anglia suggesting many of the old sites have been lost. Records away from these habitats, particularly in northern Britain, should be treated with caution and any specimens critically examined for confirmation. Recent re-examination of the dissections of all records (four) from Huntingdonshire have all proved to be female B. terrella. The provisional species map will reflect this change in the next update in Spring 2022.
National Status:
Bradley & Fletcher no:

Provisional Map
Maps updated with all data received by January 2020.
Foodplant and Larval Feeding Signs
Syntrichia ruraliformis (sand-hill screw-moss), Homalothecium (Hypnum) lutescens (yellow feather-moss) and Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus (springy turf-moss).
The larva feeds in whitish silken tubes incorporating some sand grains within the moss.
Foodplant Map
Habitat
In sandy coastal areas, particularly sparsely vegetated open duneland and also, rarely, inland in sandy areas.
Finding the Moth
Larva: in whitish silken tubes incorporating some sand grains within the moss foodplant.
Adult: can be disturbed during the day and comes to light.
Similar Species
B. desertella lacks the coppery brown gloss of B. terrella, the latter usually being slightly larger and with broader forewings (wingspan 11-15mm in B. desertella as opposed to 14-16.5mm in B. terrella). In coastal dunes, B. desertella is usually smaller than B. terrella and B. politella but there is some size overlap. Inland, B. desertella is usually larger and can be darker than on the coast making it difficult to separate from B. terrella. Dissection is strongly recommended if there is any doubt, particularly if an inland B. desertella is suspected. Further information on comparisons with B. politella and B. terrella can be found under those species.
Larval Occurrence
Flight Period
Single brooded from mid-May to late August.
Earliest: one exceptionally early record of 15th April 2004 (VC25); next, at same location, 13th May 2006.
Latest: 10th September 2006 (VC48)