Elachistidae

38.043 Saltern Rush-miner Elachista scirpi Stainton, 1887

Notable A

Similar species:

Forewing: 5 to 6mm

Habitats: Salt-marsh and brackish coastal areas.

Habits: The moth flies around the foodplant at sunset and occasionally comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva mines a leaf of Sea Club-rush or sometimes Saltmarsh Rush or Round-fruited Rush. When Sea Club-rush is the host it makes a short and broad pale green mine in the upper part of the leaf with dark frass in a thick irregular central line. When Juncus is the host it makes a short yellowish gallery mine from mid-leaf towards the tip of a leaf blade then doubles back towards the start, at the same time it is widening and eventually taking up about half the leaf width. The frass is mainly in the old part of the mine in an elongate dark mass. The mines or often found on plants standing in water. The larva is pale green-yellow with a diffuse dorsal line, with a yellow head that is darker below. Pupation takes place in May under a slight web on the midrib of a leaf or at the base of a leaf.