Last modified: Dec. 5, 2023, 12:49 p.m.
A very rare species of brackish salt marshes along the Scheldt estuary in Belgium and along the coastal area. Could be confused with Monochroa lutulentella, so control of the genitals is necessary.
Native
First observation for Belgium on 2001.06.25 at Groot Buitenschoor at Oude Doel (OV).
Wingspan 8–9 mm. This is the smallest of the Monochroa species with grey, rather plain forewings and a single black discal spot. Dissection is required to rule out some of the superficially similar species.
Larva are present from August till early spring.
The larva mines the leaves of the food plant from mid August till October, sometimes it leaves the mine or hibernates inside the mine and pupates in spring.
The adults are active from late afternoon and can be observed flying around their host plant and later come to light.
The adults fly from late May to July.
The larva lives on Bolboschoenus maritimus.
Brackish salt marshes and ponds.