Elachista adscitella Stainton, 1851

oblique-barred dwarf

Sesleria caerulea, Belgium, prov. Namur, Yvoir; © Jean-Yves Baugnée

a mine in backlight

another mine

mine

Gradually widening corridor, running either upwards or down. All frass is deposited in the earliest part of the mine. Often 2-3 larvae in a mine; in grasses with broad leaves sometimes more than one mine in a leaf.

host plants

Cyperaceae, Poaceae, narrowly polyphagous

Avenella flexuosa; Brachypodium sylvaticum; Carex elata; Calamagrostis arundinacea; Deschampsia cespitosa; Drymochloa drymeja, sylvatica; Elymus caninus; Melica nutans, uniflora; Milium effusum; Phleum; Poa chaixii, remota; Schedonorus giganteus; Sesleria albicans, argentea, caerulea, sadlerana.

phenology

Two generations; the larva of the first generation hibernates in the mine and makes a new mine in early spring. Larvae from October till end-May, and mid-June – end-July (Bland, 1996a; Traugott-Olsen & Nielsen, 1977a). However, although the species is very common in southern Germany, Steuer (1976a) did not succeed in finding occupied mines of the second generation.

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).

NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2009).

LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

distribution within Europe

All Europe, perhaps excluding the Balkan Peninsula (Fauna Europaea, 2009); observed at altitudes of 250 – 3000 m (Parenti, 1992a).

larva

pupa

Described by Patočka & Turčáni (2005a) and Parenti (2006b).

synonyms

Elachista revinctella: Traugott-Olsen & Nielsen, 1977a (see Parenti, 1992a; Bland, 1996a).

In the older literature often confused with E. megerlella (= obliquella Stainton, 1854).

references

Baldizzone (2004a), Baran, Mazurkiewicz & Pałka (2007a), Bidzilya, Budashkin & Zhakov (2016a), Bland (1996a), Buhr (1935a), Deschka & Wimmer (2000a), Diškus & Stonis (2012a), Hering (1957a), Huisman & Koster (1995a), Huisman, Koster, van Nieukerken & Ulenberg (2001a), Kaila, Mutanen, Saarela ao (2008a), Kaila, Nupponen, Junnilainen ao (2003a), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Z Laštůvka, A Laštůvka, Liška ao (1992a), Parenti (1984a, 1992a, 2000a. 2006b), Parenti & Varalda (1994a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), Pinzari, Pinzari & Zilli (2013a), De Prins (1998a), Pröse (1995a), Schütze (1931a), Sønderup (1949a), Sruoga & Ivinskis (2005a), Steurer (1976a), Szőcz (1981a), Traugott-Olsen & Nielsen, (1977a).