Elachista compsa Traugott-Olsen, 1974

mine

The mine begins as a very narrow gallery that ascends from the lower third of the leaf up to the leaf tip; it is filled with a string of minuscule frass grains. When the tip of the leaf is reached the direction reverses, and a mine is formed then that takes the full width of the leaf. In the end one half to two third of the leaf is mined out. Pupation external.

host plants

Poaceae, oligophagous (?)

Deschampsia cespitosa; Melica nutans, uniflora.

The occurrence on Deschampsia is strongly doubted by Steuer and others.

phenology

Two generations. The larvae of the first generation are active from October till December; full grown they then hibernate in the mine, which they leave in spring for pupation. A much smaller larva generation in July (Steuer, 1976a).

BENELUX

Not known from the Benelux countries (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

distribution within Europe

From Fennoscandia and the Baltic States over Germany and Poland to Italy (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

larva

Described and illustrated by Steuer (1976a). Body yellow at first, bone coloured later. Head and sclerites light brown.

pupa

See Patočka (1999a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a).

synonyms

Elachista holdenella auct. nec Stainton, 1854.

references

Aarvik, Bakke, Berg ao (1997a), Baran (2005a), Buszko (1990a), Endel, Tokár, Kosorín, ao (2025a), Hering (1957a), Parenti & Varalda (1994a), Patočka (1999a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), Pröse (1981a), Sruoga & Ivinskis (2005a), Steurer (1976a), Šumpich (2011c, 2017a), Šumpich, Žemlička, Heřman, ao (2007a), Traugott-Olsen & Nielsen (1977a).