Elachistidae

38.017 Oblique-barred Grass-miner Elachista adscitella Stainton, 1851

Notable B

Similar species:

Forewing: 4.5 to 5.5mm

Habitats: Sheltered woodland clearings

Habits: The moth occasionally comes to light.

Foodplant: In late autumn the larva forms a white mine in a leaf of Tufted Hairgrass or Blue Moor-grass. The mine may ascend or descend and is packed with frass at its start. The larva overwinters in the mine, then produces a fresh broad gallery mine in April, starting at the tip and descending. There is sometimes more than one larva in a mine. The larva is a dull yellow-green with a brown head. The prothoracic plate is also brown and enlarged at the rear. The larva pupates on the ground or occasionally attached with a silk girdle on a leaf.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Wavy Hair-grass, False Brome, Bearded Couch, Wood Fescue, Giant Fescue, Mountain Melick, Wood Melick, Wood Millet, Broad-leaved Meadow-grass, Green Moor Grass and Tufted-sedge.