Elachista tengstromi Kaila, Bengtsson, Šulcs & Junnilaninen, 2001

small wood-rush dwarf

mine

A strongly contracted upper-surface tentiform mine, generally in the lower third of the leaf, beginning at the leaf base. Often a second or third mine is made, starting from the leaf tip. These secondary mines begin as a narrow, almost completely frass-filled corridor, that continues down to the leaf base, all the while widening into a tentiform mine. Pupation outside the mine (Steuer, 1980a).

hostplants

Juncaceae, narrowly monophagous

Luzula pilosa.

At least in Britain this seems to be the only hostplant (Heckford, 2008a).

phenology

Larvae from autummn till the end of April.

BENELUX

Not known from the Benelux countries (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

distribution within Europe

From Scandinavia and Finland to Switzerland and Austria, and from Britain to Poland (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

larva

Head pale honey coloured, mouth-parts dark brown; prothoracic and anal plates and thoracic legs translucent yellowish green; dull green, tinged yellowish ventrally (Langmaid, 2007a). Steuer (1980a) gives a detailed description, but it is not quite certain that this indeed refers to tengstromi.

synonyms

Elachista magnificella. Untill the publication by Kaila ao (2001a) this species was considered a form of E. regificella.

notes

Mines are mostly found where Luzula pilosa grows in coniferous forest, under a cover of Deschampsia cespitosa (Steuer, 1980a).

references

Baran (2005a), Baran, Mazurkiewicz & Pałka (2007a), Beiger (1958a), Bidzilya, Budashkin & Zhakov (2016a) Ukraine, Buhr (1935b), Heckford (2008a), Kaila, Bengtsson, Šulcs & Junnilainen (2001a), Kaila & Langmaid (2005a), Langmaid (2007a), Steuer (1980a).

03/04/2017