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

Elachista subnigrella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Elachistidae
Genus: Elachista
Species:
E. subnigrella
Binomial name
Elachista subnigrella

Description edit

The wingspan is 7–9 millimetres (0.28–0.35 in). The head is dark grey, face lighter. Forewings blackish-grey, light-sprinkled, in female darker except on basal area ; a slender indistinct fascia before middle, somewhat indented or interrupted on fold, in male sometimes almost obsolete, a small indistinct tornal spot, and costal spot somewhat beyond it whitish, in female whiter and more distinct. Hindwings are rather dark grey.The larva is pale yellow ; head pale brown. Hindwings are grey.[2]

Biology edit

Adults are on wing from April to May.[3] The larvae feed on Avena, Avenula pubescens, Bromus erectus, Calamagrostis epigejos, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca and Holcus mollis. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine has the form of a narrow, flat corridor, descending from the leaf tip. The frass is deposited in a continuous line. A single larva may make several mines. Pupation takes place outside of the mine.[4] They are pale yellow with a light brown head. Larvae can be found from April to May and again in July.

Distribution edit

It is found from Scandinavia and the Baltic States to the Pyrenees and Italy and from Ireland to Romania.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "Elachista (Elachista) subnigrella Douglas, 1853". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  2. ^ Meyrick, Edward (1895). "Elachistidae". A Handbook of British Lepidoptera. London: Macmillan. pp. 638–692.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ "microlepidoptera.nl". Archived from the original on 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
  4. ^ "Elachista subnigrella Douglas, 1853". Bladmineerders.nl. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
  5. ^ Ellis, W N. "Elachista subnigrella Douglas, 1853 dark dwarf". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
 
Mined leaves of Bromus erectus
 
Pupa
 
Larva