Elachista maculicerusella (Bruand, 1859)
triple-spot dwarf
on Poaceae
Holcus spec., België, prov. Limbourg © Carina Van Steenwinkel
another image
mine lighted from behind
larva about to pupate
Phalaroides arundinacea, Belgium, prov. Limbourg © Carina Van Steenwinkel
occasionally two larvae in a mine
pupa in a leaf axil
Phragmites australis, Belgium, prov. West-Flanders, Poperinge, Watou: Helleketelbos © Maarten Willems
detail, last section of the mine
larva, ventral view
mine
The first section of the mine is a long and very narrow gallery running in the direction of the leaf tip. At a given moment the galley switches direction and simultaneously becomes broader, ultimately becoming as wide as the leaf itself. Hering (1957a) describes the mine as flat and quite shallow, giving it a greenish, rather than whitish appearance. Frass initially in the oldest, upper part of the mine, later in strings. The larva can leave its mine and restart elsewhere. Normally only one larva per mine, but sometimes two or even three mines in a leaf. Pupation outside the mine (Bland, 1996a; Traugott-Olsen & Schmidt Nielsen, 1977a).
host plants
Poaceae, oligophagous
Agrostis; Alopecurus pratensis; Arrhenatherum elatius; Brachypodium; Bromopsis inermis; Calamagrostis epigeios; Dactylis glomerata; Elytrugia repens; Holcus; Phalaris canariensis; Phalaroides arundinacea; Phragmites australis; Poa compressa; Schedonorus pratensis; Triseum; Triticum.
Steuer (1987a) mentions the species from Phalaroides arundinacea and Phragmites australis, and only occasionally from Schedonorus pratensis.
phenology
Larvae in April – May and July (Traugott-Olsen & Schmidt Nielsen, 1977a).
BENELUX
BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).
NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2009).
LUX recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
distribution within Europe
Entire Europe, excepted the Iberian Peninsula and perhaps also the Balkan Peninsula (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
larva
Yellowish green, head and pronotum pale brown; see Steuer (1987a) for a detailed description.
pupa
Described by Patočka & Turčáni (2005a).
synonyms
Elachista cerusella (Hübner, 1796); E. monosemiella Rössler, 1881.
references
Baran, Mazurkiewicz & Pałka (2007a), Bidzilya, Budashkin & Zhakov (2016a), Biesenbaum (1995b), Bland (1996a), Diškus & Stonis (2012a), Ford (1943a), Hering (1957a, 1963a), Kaila, Nupponen, Junnilainen ao (2003a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Leutsch (2011a), Parenti & Varalda (1994a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), Robbins (1991a), Schmid (2019a), Schütze (1931a), Sønderup (1949a), Sruoga & Ivinskis (2005a, 2011a), Sruoga, StunþënaV & Paulavièiûte (2009a), Steuer (1987a), Szőcs (1977a, 1981a), Traugott-Olsen & Schmidt Nielsen, 1977a), Wieser (2018a).