Elachista bifasciella Treitschke, 1833 Species
Last modified: Nov. 7, 2024, 10:59 a.m.
A very rare and local species in Belgium.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Elachistidae > Subfamily: Elachistinae > Genus: Elachista > Species: Elachista bifasciella
- Vernacular names
- Tweebandgrasmineermot (NL)
- First mention in Belgium
- Dufrane A. 1942. Microlépidoptères de la faune belge, (1re note). — Bulletin du Musée royal d'Histoire naturelle de Belgique 18(5): 1–12. On page 9.
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan 7–9 mm.
Small species with a white head and middle body grey-black. Labial palps are yellowish white. Forewings grey-black. A white cross band at the base, on the middle of the wing, and towards the tip. Grey hind wings.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
No pictures yet!Egg
The egg is laid at the top of the leaf.
Caterpillar
A transparent, lemon-yellow larva with a light brown head.
Mine
See also bladmineerders.be
The somewhat inflated mine runs from the top to halfway down the leaf between the leaf margin and the midrib. Frass in a central line.
Bionomics
The caterpillar can make several mines on the host plant. Pupation in a cocoon on the food plant.
The adults fly from noon to dusk, often in small sunny spots. During the day it is often seen resting on the foodplant. The adults come to light.
Flight periods
They fly from mid-May towards July.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Deschampsia cespitosa, Holcus mollis and Deschampsia flexuosa
- Substrates:
- Grasses
Different species of grasses like Deschampsia caespitosa, Avenella flexuosa and Holcus mollis.
Habitat
It prefers shady, cold, dark coniferous forests.
