Elachistidae

38.047 Dark Meadow Grass-miner Elachista freyerella (Hübner, [1825])

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 3.5 to 4mm

Habitats: Woodland rides and margins, damp meadows and many other places where the foodplants are present.

Habits:

Foodplant: The larva mines a leaf of Cock's-foot, meadow-grass, soft-grass and many other grasses. It makes a broad, pale, flat blotch with scattered frass descending from the tip of a leaf. The larva may change leaves and make several mines before becoming full-fed. The larva is yellow-grey with a black head and divided prothoracic plate. It pupates under a dense web on a leaf or stem of the foodplant.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Annual Meadow-grass, Flattened Meadow-grass, Rough Meadow-grass, Broad-leaved Meadow-grass, Wood Meadow-grass, Smooth Meadow-grass, Yellow Oat-grass, Crested Hair-grass, Wild Wheat, Tall Fescue, Red Fescue, bents, bromes and soft-grass.