Local in urban areas with old walls, and open country with dry-stone walls and rocky outcrops throughout Britain, except for the north of Scotland, the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland; very local in southern and eastern Ireland (MBGBI Vol 4 part 2). In Hampshire recorded very sparsely in both the north and south, mainly in urban areas. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 11-13 mm. Similar to
B. affinis,
B. senectella and
B. umbrosella, which see for differences. Larva feeds on mosses growing on rocks and old walls, living within a silken tube or tent.