Rare (proposed as a future Red Data Book species) in bird nests, and around old buildings, formerly throughout much of the British Isles, but now absent from most of its original range. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight there have been no recent records. Wingspan 15-22 mm. Larva feeds on fur, hair or feathers, either naturally occurring as in birds' nests or pellets of birds of prey, or in manufactured articles, formerly a troublesome pest in unheated buildings (MBGBI Vol 2).