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 boecomes wider. The mine is transparant, 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), Maček (1999a), Martini (1912a), Parenti & Varalda (1994a), De Prins (1998a), Schütze (1931a), Sruoga & Ivinskis (2005a), Steurer (1976a), Traugott-Olsen & Nielsen (1977a), Szőcs (1977a).