Elachista apicipunctella

Alternative names
Pearly Grass-miner
Pearled Dwarf
Description

Wingspan 10-11 mm. The adult moth can be identified by its white head and in particular the extra white subapical spot on the forewing beyond the costal and tornal spots.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Woodland clearings and well wooded areas.

When to see it

The adult moths emerge in a single generation from late April to June in the south and somewhat later in the north, from June to July. There may occasionally be the emergence of a second generation in the south.

Life History

The larvae of this species feed on various grasses, forming a mine within which the larva is able to overwinter.

UK Status

This moth is found throughout Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

VC55 Status

Probably fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland, though not easily observed.

Reference
38.032 BF602

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Pearled Dwarf
Species group:
Moths
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Elachistidae
Records on NatureSpot:
28
First record:
05/05/2010 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
05/05/2022 (Cooper, Barbara)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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