# Barred Grass-veneer (*Agriphila inquinatella*)

The Barred Grass-veneer is a small, colorful moth that loves to flutter around grasslands. It has pretty stripes on its wings that help it blend in with the grass.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Barred Grass-veneer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Agriphila.inquinatella.mounted.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Sarefo, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Agriphila.inquinatella.mounted.jpg)

## Appearance

The Barred Grass-veneer is a small, slender moth with a distinctive pattern of yellowish-brown and metallic silver-white stripes. Its forewings feature several dark, wavy bars that run across the striped background, making it stand out from plainer moths.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Lepidoptera
- **Family:** Crambidae
- **Genus:** Agriphila

## Interesting facts

- Adults live weeks, but their main job is laying hundreds of tiny eggs!
- Its caterpillars are super secret, feeding on grass at night to avoid hungry birds!
- Some moths have tiny 'ears' on their chest to hear hungry bats approaching!
- These moths are nocturnal, flying and feeding mostly after the sun sets!

## Special abilities

- **Striped Camouflage:** Barred Grass-veneer has intricate brown and silver stripes that help it perfectly blend into dried grasses, making it nearly invisible.
- **Nectar Sipper:** Barred Grass-veneer has a long, coiled proboscis that helps it sip nectar from deep flowers, getting energy for flight.
- **Overwintering Resilience:** Barred Grass-veneer caterpillars can slow their metabolism and burrow underground, which helps them survive cold winter months.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 23-32 mm
- **Size:** 10-15 mm
- **Lifespan:** 7-21 days
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

Adults sip flower nectar; caterpillars munch on various types of grass.

- **Age differences:** Larvae eat grasses, while adult moths drink nectar from flowers.
- **Primary Foods:** nectar, grasses (Poaceae), clover
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** Annual Meadow Grass (*Poa annua*) — Its caterpillars depend on grass leaves for all their food.
- **Pollinates:** [White Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-clover) (*Trifolium repens*) — Adult moths visit its flowers for nectar, helping with pollination.
- **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Caterpillars provide a vital food source for many hungry nestling birds.
- **Eaten by:** Common Pipistrelle (*Pipistrellus pipistrellus*) — Nocturnal bats hunt flying adult moths for food.

## Traits

- [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color.
- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

It's best to watch moths from a distance and not touch them.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Barred Grass-veneer?

Compare resting wing shape, forewing markings, antennae and body build. Small brown moths can hinge on fine details a phone photo can't always catch. Moth Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What is Barred Grass-veneer's wingspan?

23-32 mm

### How big is Barred Grass-veneer?

10-15 mm

### How long does Barred Grass-veneer live?

7-21 days

### What does Barred Grass-veneer eat?

Adults sip flower nectar; caterpillars munch on various types of grass.

### Where is Barred Grass-veneer usually found?

Grasslands

### How does Barred Grass-veneer hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Barred Grass-veneer have?

6

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Barred Grass-veneer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barred-grass-veneer)