But as it seems, Herrich-Schäffer was merely one of the first to use the name proposed by Heydenreich, as the volume of his Systematische Bearbeitung der Schmetterlinge von Europa where he discussed the cork moth was not published until 1853 or 1854.

The forewings are irregularly mottled black, brown, white and grey, resembling close relatives such as the European corn moth (N. granella).

[3][4][5] Nemapogon cloacella is a widespread species, found all across the western Palaeartic and North America, where it has recently been recorded from British Columbia.

Other authors stated that they were only found on the oak mazegill fungus (Daedalea quercina), and ascribed the wide range of foodstuffs to N. granella.

But as it seems, neither extreme was correct; the caterpillars do eat preferentially fungi – not only the oak mazegill but also others (e.g. birch polypore, Piptoporus betulinus) – feeding on plant debris and similar materials when their favorite food is not available.