Lesser Wax Moth - Achroia grisella

Wingspan 16-24 mm. This is a rather small and plain-looking grey-brown moth.

Often in areas where bee hives are present.

The adults occur from July into the autumn and can sometimes be attracted to light.

This moth has an interesting life-history. The larvae feed on the wax of old honeycombs in bee-hives, though they are also known to feed on dried fruit and dead insects.

Formerly regarded as fairly common throughout Britain, this species has declined and is often local to those areas where bee-hives occur. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

Uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded)