Elachistidae

38.016 Buff Grass-miner Elachista subalbidella Schläger, 1847

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 5 to 6mm

Habitats: Open moorland and heathland

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva forms a short mine at a leaf-tip of Purple Moor-grass. It then reverses and travels down the leaf forming a long, broadening, straight-sided, full depth mine with a central tube of silk and frass. It may change leaves. It is dark olive-green with a dark brown head. The prothoracic plate is even darker, with a pale circle on each side. The full-fed larva overwinters and pupates in the spring, attached by a silk girdle on a leaf or on the ground.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Heath False-brome, False Brome and Rough Small-Reed.