Elachistidae

38.009 Western Grass-miner Elachista dispunctella (Duponchel, [1843])

pRDB2

Similar species:

Forewing: 8mm

Habitats: Dry grassland, coastal grassland slopes.

Habits:

Foodplant: The larva mines the leaves of Sheeps-fescue and other fescues. The narrow white mine widens from the base to the leaf-tip. The final yellowish mine takes up the width of the leaf, with frass packed at the bottom. The larva is pale grey with a reddish-brown head and curved prothoracic plate. It pupates on a grass stem held by strands of silk.