Elachistinae
Bruand, 1850
grass-miner moths
Genus Guides
3- Elachista(grass-miner moths)
- Perittia
- Stephensia
Elachistinae is a of small in the Elachistidae, superfamily Gelechioidea. The subfamily contains approximately 805 valid placed in 10 , with the genus Elachista being the most diverse. Species are predominantly leaf miners, with larvae feeding on monocotyledonous plants, especially sedges (Cyperaceae) and grasses (Poaceae). The subfamily has a worldwide distribution with significant diversity in the Holarctic region. Many species show narrow plant associations and some exhibit vicariant distribution patterns.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Elachistinae: /ˌɛləˈkɪstɪniː/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images
Distribution
Worldwide. Documented from all major biogeographic regions including: Europe (southern Finland, western and eastern Mediterranean), Asia (Nepalese Himalayas, Thailand, China, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Russia), Africa (Ghana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, East Africa, St Helena Island), North America (Canada, U.S.A.), South America (Ecuador, Bolivia, Honduras), and Australia.
Diet
Larvae are predominantly leaf miners on monocotyledonous plants. Specific plants recorded include: Carex digitata, Carex pediformis, Carex dianae (Cyperaceae); Calamagrostis arundinacea (Poaceae). Host plant associations are often narrow; some are monophagous.
Host Associations
- Carex digitata - larval plantrecorded for Elachista saarelai
- Carex pediformis - probable larval plantrecorded for Elachista saarelai
- Carex dianae - sole larval plantmonophagous; Elachista trifasciata on St Helena Island
- Calamagrostis arundinacea - larval plantrecorded for Elachista deriventa
- unknown sedge/grass species - larval plantnew plant recorded for Elachista saccharella in Ecuador, not identified to
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Elachista trifasciata (Wollaston, 1879) on St Helena Island (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae: Elachistinae)
- An annotated catalogue of Elachistinae of the World (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Elachistidae)
- The Elachistinae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Elachistidae) of Ecuador with descriptions of five new species
- <i>Elachista saarelai</i> sp. n. (Lepidoptera, Elachistidae: Elachistinae), a new species from southern Finland
- DNA barcoding and morphology support the division of Elachista nuraghella sensu auctorum (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae: Elachistinae) into two vicariant species
- The First Neotropical Record of the Genus Urodeta (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae: Elachistinae) with Keys to the World Species and a Description of a New Species from Honduras
- <i>Elachista deriventa</i> sp. n. (Lepidoptera, Elachistidae: Elachistinae), a new species from southern Finland
- A new species of Urodeta (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae: Elachistinae) from Nepal, the first record of the genus from Asia, showing an ancient distribution pattern
- Review of the Neotropical Species of the Elachista praelineata Species Group (Lepidoptera, Elachistidae, Elachistinae) with Identification Keys and Description of a New Species from Bolivia
- New species in the Elachista praelineata species group (Lepidoptera, Elachistidae, Elachistinae) from East Africa, with identification keys to the Afrotropical species.
- First male description of Urodeta longa Sruoga & Kaila, 2019 from Thailand with identification keys to Asian species of Urodeta Stainton, 1869 (Lepidoptera, Elachistidae, Elachistinae).
- New species of Urodeta Stainton, 1869 (Lepidoptera, Elachistidae, Elachistinae) from Ghana and Democratic Republic of the Congo, with identification keys to the Afrotropical species of the genus.
- A new species of Elachista Treitschke, 1833 (Lepidoptera, Elachistidae, Elachistinae) from China, with identification keys to the Asian species of the Elachistasaccharella species group.