Elachista chrysodesmella Zeller, 1850

mine

The mine begins from the middle of the leaf as a narrow corridor running upwards. After a while the direction reverses and the mine becomes wider. The mine is transparent, somewhat contracted and inflated, and causes the leaf to contract lightly. The mine, that is not very long, resembles a tentiform mine. The frass is deposited in the upper section of the mine and is densely compacted. Pupation external.

host plants

Cyperaceae, Poaceae; oligophagous (?)

Brachypodium pinnatum, sylvaticum; Carex humilis, montana; Dactylis glomerata; Holcus; Poa trivialis.

Steuer (1976a) knows the species only from Brachypodium pinnatum.

phenology

Larvae from early spring to May, and again in July – early-August (Buszko, 1990a; Traugott-Olsen & Nielsen, 1977a).

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).

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

LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

distribution within Europe

From Sweden to the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, and Romania, and from France to Central Russia and the Ukraine (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

larva

Larva amber; head pale brown, laterally dark. Prosternum, pronotum and anal plate with chitin structures of a characteristic shape (Steuer, 1976a).

notes

Species of sunny, rather dry slopes (Steuer, 1976a).

references

Baldizzone (2004a), Baran, Mazurkiewicz & Pałka (2007a), Beiger (1955a), Bidzilya, Budashkin & Zhakov (2016a), Buhr (1935b), Buschmann, Fazekas & Pastorális (2011a), Buszko (1990a), Corley, Marabuto & Pires (2007a), Hering (1957a), Klimesch (1958c), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Langohr (1984a), Maček (1999a), Martini (1912a), Parenti & Varalda (1994a), De Prins (1998a), Schütze (1931a), Sruoga & Ivinskis (2005a), Steurer (1976a), Traugott-Olsen & Nielsen (1977a), Szőcs (1977a).