Seq # 270210250

Elachista gleichenella (Fabricius, 1781) Species

Last modified: Dec. 2, 2024, 5:14 p.m.


A very rare species in Belgium, more found as mines.


Details

Classification
Family: Elachistidae > Subfamily: Elachistinae > Genus: Elachista > Species: Elachista gleichenella
Vernacular names
Zeggemineermot (NL), Twin-barred Dwarf (EN)
Synonyms
Elachista magnificella (Duponchel, 1843) and Elachista fractella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1855)
First mention in Belgium
De Fré Ch. 1858. Catalogue des Microlépidoptères de la Belgique. — Annales de la Société entomologique belge 2: 45–162. On page 151 (as E.[lachista] Fractella. H. S.). view page
Status

Native


Distribution


Imago

Wingspan 9 mm. This small but attractive species has a slight metallic sheen to the yellowish-white fasciae on the forewing.

Museum specimens


Specimens in nature

No pictures yet!

Genitalia


Caterpillar


Mine


Bionomics

The larvae make an erratic meandering gallery and during the following spring it expands and the mine becomes an irregular elongated blotch, it often occupies the full width of the leaf.
It pupates in a loose cocoon external.
The adults come to light.


Flight periods

The adults fly in one generation a year from late May till early August.


Observed on

Host plant (species):
Carex flacca, Carex echinata and Carex paniculata
Host plant (genera):
Carex and Luzula

The larva lives on different species of Luzula and Carex.


Habitat

Cool forest on calcareous soil.

No pictures yet!