Elachistidae

38.033 Dingy Grass-miner Elachista subnigrella Douglas, 1853

Notable B

Similar species:

Forewing: 3.5 to 4mm

Habitats: Dry grassland.

Habits:

Foodplant: The larva mines a leaf of Upright Brome, Downy Oat-grass or Crested Hair-grass. It forms a pale yellow-green and narrow gallery mine with a near continuous line of frass. The mine later becomes purplish. The larva is pale yellow with a pale brown head and prothoracic plate. It pupates without a cocoon under a silk girdle, on the base of the mined leaf or on adjacent vegetation.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Cock's-foot, Wild Oat, Creeping Soft-grass, Wood Small-reed and fescues.