Elachista eleochariella

Elachista eleochariella is a moth of the family Elachistidae found in Europe and North America.

Elachista eleochariella
Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Elachistidae
Genus:
Elachista
Species:
E. eleochariella
Binomial name
Elachista eleochariella
Stainton, 1851
Synonyms
  • Biselachista eleochariella (Stainton, 1851)

Description

The wingspan is 7–8 millimetres (0.28–0.31 in).The head is grey. Forewings are grey ; plical stigma black, preceded and followed by whitish marks ; a small tornal spot, and an oblique wedge-shaped mark on costa opposite whitish. Hindwings are dark grey.[1]

The larvae feed on glaucous sedge (Carex flacca), carnation sedge (Carex panicea), black sedge (Carex nigra), common spike-rush (Eleocharis palustris) and common cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium). The larvae form an upper-surface mine, starting just under the tip of the leaf. They first form a corridor which runs upwards, then doubles, widening all the while, with the final part taking about half the width of the leaf.[2] There is some confusion as to the form of the mine with a different description on the UKmoths website.[3]

Pupation takes place outside of the mine.[4]

Distribution

In Europe it is found from northern Europe and northern Russia to the Pyrenees and Alps, and from Ireland to Romania.[5] It is also found in North America.[6]

References
  1. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description
  2. Ellis, W N. "Elachista eleochariella Stainton, 1851 small bog dwarf". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  3. Kimber, Ian. "38.044 BF628 Elachista eleochariella Stainton, 1851". UKmoths. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  4. "achista eleochariella Stainton, 1851". Bladmineerders.nl. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  5. "Elachista (Elachista) eleochariella Stainton, 1851". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  6. "Elachista elechariella – Stainton, 1851". Moth Photographers Group. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
Male
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