Elachista trapeziella

Elachista trapeziella is a moth of the family Elachistidae found in Europe.

Elachista trapeziella
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Elachistidae
Genus:
Elachista
Species:
E. trapeziella
Binomial name
Elachista trapeziella
Synonyms
  • Biselachista trapeziella

The wingspan is 8–10 millimetres (0.31–0.39 in). The head is grey, face white.Forewings are blackish ; a spot on fold towards base, one on middle of costa and another beneath it on fold, in female larger and sometimes confluent, a fourth on tornus, and a fifth at apex shining white. Hindwings are dark fuscous. The larva is greenish-grey, faintly reddish tinged.[2]

Adults are on wing from June to August.[3]

The larvae feed on white wood-rush (Luzula luzuloides), hairy wood-rush (Luzula pilosa) and greater wood-rush (Luzula sylvatica). They mine the leaves of their host plant. At first, the larvae creates a narrow corridor which runs parallel to the leaf venation, although it may change direction two to three times. Later, this gallery abruptly changes into an elongate blotch, generally destroying the original gallery. Larvae may vacate the mine and restart elsewhere. Pupation takes place outside of the mine.[4] They are pink with three cream-coloured length lines and a black head. Larvae can be found from autumn to April or June of the following year.[5]

Distribution

It is found from Fennoscandia to the Pyrenees and Italy and from Ireland to Slovakia.

References
  1. "Elachista (Elachista) trapeziella Stainton, 1849". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  2. 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
  3. "Trapetsgräsmal Elachista trapeziella". Swedish Moths. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  4. "Elachista trapeziella Stainton, 1849". Bladmineerders.nl. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
  5. Ellis, W N. "Elachista trapeziella Stainton, 1849 scarce dwarf". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 29 March 2020.


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