Elachistidae

38.012 Woodland Grass-miner Elachista obliquella Stainton, 1854

Notable B

Similar species:

Forewing: 4 to 5mm

Habitats: Damp woodland rides, clearings and margins.

Habits: The moth occasionally comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva mines a leaf of False Brome and occasionally Upright Brome or Cock's-foot. It first mines upwards making an almost straight pale brown mine along a leaf with the frass in the lower part. It then moves to another leaf where it mines up or down and the mine ends up being the width of the leaf which has a puckered upper surface. The larva is a dull grey-green with a brown head and prothoracic plate. Pupation takes place on a leaf or stem, attached with a girdle of silk.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Crested Hair-grass, Broad-leaved Meadow-grass, Tufted Hair-grass, Wood Millet, Wood Barley, Tufted Sedge, Slender Tufted Sedge, Spiked Sedge, Birdsfoot Sedge, Wood Sedge, melicks, fescues and small-reeds.