Elachista alpinella

Elachista alpinella
Elachista alpinella
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Elachistidae
Genus: Elachista
Species: E. alpinella
Binomial name
Elachista alpinella
Stainton, 1854
Synonyms
  • Elachista monticola Wocke in Heinemann, 1876
  • Elachista oxytypa Braun, 1948

Elachista alpinella is a moth of the Elachistidae family. It is found from Fennoscandia and northern Russia to the Pyrenees and Italy and from Ireland to central Russia and Hungary.[1] It is also found in North America.[2]

The wingspan is 9–13 millimetres (0.35–0.51 in).

The larvae feed on Carex acuta, Carex acutiformis, Carex paniculata and Carex riparia. The larvae mine the leaves of their host. The mine is narrow and begins just below the tip of the leaf and runs downwards. It might be found along the leaf margin or in the centre of the leaf. It is thought that the larvae start a new mine after hibernation. This mine is similar to the first, but ends near the leaf base. Pupation takes place outside of the mine.[3]

References

  1. "Elachista (Elachista) alpinella Stainton, 1854". 2.6.2. Fauna Europaea. August 29, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  2. "Elachista alpinella – Stainton, 1854". Moth Photographers Group. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  3. "Elachista alpinella Stainton, 1854". Bladmineerders.nl. Retrieved March 7, 2010.