Elachista humilis

Elachista humilis is a moth of the family Elachistidae found in most of Europe.

Elachista humilis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Elachistidae
Genus: Elachista
Species:
E. humilis
Binomial name
Elachista humilis
Zeller, 1850
Synonyms
List
    • Poeciloptilia humiliella Herrich-Schäffer, 1855
    • Elachista airae Stainton, 1858
    • Elachista perplexella Stainton, 1858
    • Elachista occultella Douglas, 1859
    • Elachista holdenella Stainton, 1854 sensu Pierce & Metcalfe, 1935

Description

The wingspan is 9–10 millimetres (0.35–0.39 in). Adults are on wing from May to July. There are two generations per year.The head is grey, face whitish. Forewings light grey irrorated with dark fuscous ; a very indistinct oblique whitish fascia before middle, usually partly or wholly obsolete ; a small tornal spot and larger triangular spot on costa somewhat beyond it ochreous-white.Hindwings are grey..[1]

Biology

Larvae have been recorded on bent (Agrostis species), sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum), sedge (Carex species), tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa), fescue (Festuca species), Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) and smooth meadow-grass (Poa pratensis), but tufted hairgrass is the main hostplant. The other host plants are not all equally trustworthy because of possible confusion with Elachista canapennella.[2]

The young larvae make a short corridor that is stuffed with frass in spring. After hibernation, they vacate this mine and make a number of elongated blotches, all descending from the leaf tip.

Distribution

It is found in most of Europe, except the Iberian Peninsula and the Balkan Peninsula.[3]

References
  1. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description
  2. "Elachista humilis Zeller, 1850 obscure dwarf". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  3. "Elachista (Elachista) humilis Zeller, 1850". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
Mined leaf blade of Deschampsia caespitosa


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