Elachista serricornis Stainton, 1854

dusky dwarf

mine

In autumn the larva makes a long, brown corridor, and hibernates therein. In spring a new mine is made in another leaf. This one starts near the base of the blade, widens upwards, and finally forms an elongate yellowish irregular blotch of 3-5 cm in length. Pupation externa[; the pupa is attached to the mine without a cocoon.

According to Martini (1912a) a characteristic of this species is the extreme precision with which the mine joins up with the length venation of the leaf.

host plants

Cyperaceae, oligophagous (?)

Carex elata, ericetorum, ferruginea, sylvatica, vesicaria; Eriophorum angustifolium, latifolium, vaginatum; Scirpus sylvaticus.

Most authors agree that Carex sylvatica is the main hostplant. But according to Buhl (1991a) and Heckford (1999a) in Denmark and Britain the species does not at all live in Carex, but exclusively on Eriophorum vaginatum.

phenology

Larvae from autumn till April of the following year (Bland, 1996a; Traugott-Olsen & Nielsen, 1977a).

BENELUX

BE not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2010).

LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

distribution within Europe

From Fennoscandia and North Russia to northern Italy, and from Ireland to Poland and Hungary (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

larva

Body greyish green with a whitish dorsal line. Head and prothoracic plate light brown. Meso- and metanotum each with a lateral mark, connected by a whitish streak.

synonyms

Biselachista serricornis.

references

Baran, Mazurkiewicz & Pałka (2007a), Biesenbaum (1999a), Bland (1996a), Buhl (1991a), Buhr (1935a), Buszko (1990a), Fazekas & Schreurs (2012a), Gerstberger (2000a), Heckford (1999a), Hering (1957a), Huisman, Koster, van Nieukerken & Ulenberg (2004a), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Martini (1912a), Parenti & Pizzolato (2015a), Parenti & Varalda (1994), Pröse (1995a), Robbins (1991a), Schütze (1931a), Sruoga & Ivinskis (2005a, 2011a), Szőcs (1977a), Traugott-Olsen & Nielsen (1977a).