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), Schütze (1931a), Sønderup (1949a), Sruoga & Ivinskis (2005a, 2011a), Sruoga, StunþënaV & Paulavièiûte (2009a), Steuer (1987a), Szőcs (1977a, 1981a), Traugott-Olsen & Schmidt Nielsen, 1977a), Wieser (2018a).