Elachista alpinella

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

Elachista alpinella
Elachista alpinella
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Elachistidae
Genus:
Elachista
Species:
E. alpinella
Binomial name
Elachista alpinella
Stainton, 1854
Synonyms
  • Elachista monticola Wocke in Heinemann, 1876
  • Elachista oxytypa Braun, 1948

Description

The wingspan is 9–13 millimetres (0.35–0.51 in) The head is fuscous, whitish-sprinkled. Forewings are dark fuscous, basal area in female sometimes pale ; a somewhat curved fascia before middle, in male obsolete towards costa, an erect triangular tornal spot, and a similar spot on costa beyond it white, in female larger.Hindwings are dark grey.[1]

The moth flies from June through to September.[2]

The larvae feed on acute sedge (Carex acuta), lesser pond-sedge (Carex acutiformis), greater tussock-sedge (Carex paniculata) and greater pond sedge (Carex riparia), mining the leaves of their host, The mine is narrow and begins just below the tip of the leaf and runs downwards. It might be found along the leaf margin or in the centre of the leaf. It is thought that the larvae start a new mine after hibernation. This mine is similar to the first, but ends near the leaf base. Pupation takes place outside of the mine.[3]

Distribution

It is found from Fennoscandia and northern Russia to the Pyrenees and Italy and from Ireland to central Russia and Hungary.[4] It is also found in North America.[5]

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. Kimber, Ian. "38.028 BF599 Elachista alpinella Stainton, 1854". UKmoths. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  3. "Elachista alpinella Stainton, 1854". Bladmineerders.nl. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  4. "Elachista alpinella Stainton, 1854 marsh dwarf". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  5. "Elachista alpinella – Stainton, 1854". Moth Photographers Group. Retrieved March 7, 2010.


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