Elachistidae
Guides
Blastodacna
Blastodacna is a genus of small moths in the family Elachistidae, first described by Wocke in 1876. The genus contains approximately 15 recognized species distributed primarily across the Holarctic region, with the majority of species occurring in the Palearctic. Taxonomic placement of this genus has been disputed, with some authorities historically assigning it to Agonoxenidae or recognizing it as the separate family Blastodacnidae. The genus includes several species associated with fruit trees, notably Blastodacna pyrigalla, which is known as a pest of pear.
Blastodacna atra
Apple Pith Moth
Blastodacna atra, commonly known as the apple pith moth, is a small moth in the family Elachistidae. It is native to most of Europe and has been introduced to North America, where it has been recorded in Massachusetts and Ontario. The species is notable for its larval habit of mining inside the young shoots of apple trees (Malus species), which can cause localized damage to orchards. Adults are active from May through September in western Europe.
Chrysoclista
Chrysoclista is a genus of small moths within the family Elachistidae, though its familial placement has been historically disputed. The genus was described by Henry Tibbats Stainton in 1854 and contains approximately twelve described species distributed across the Holarctic region. Species within this genus exhibit metallic coloration, reflected in the name derived from Greek roots meaning 'golden' and 'hair'. The taxonomy of Chrysoclista has been contentious, with various authors assigning it to Agonoxenidae, Cosmopterigidae, Elachistidae, or Momphidae.
Elachista cucullata
Elachista cucullata is a small moth in the family Elachistidae, described by Braun in 1926. It is distributed across eastern and central North America, with records from the United States and Canada. The species has a wingspan of 8–9 mm. Adults are active from May to July, and larvae are stem-leaf miners on Carex species.
Elachista huron
Elachista huron is a species of micro-moth in the family Elachistidae. It was described by Kaila in 1996. The species is known from a single U.S. state, Iowa, and remains poorly documented in scientific literature. As with most members of this large genus, detailed biological information is scarce.
Elachista madarella
Elachista madarella is a small North American moth in the family Elachistidae. Adults are active from May through October and have a wingspan of 8–9 mm. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on sedges, specifically Carex pubescens, Carex cristata, and Scirpus atrovirens. This species was originally described as Cosmiotes madarella by Clemens in 1860.
Elachista subalbidella
buff grass-miner
Elachista subalbidella is a small moth in the family Elachistidae with a wingspan of 10–13 mm. It is characterized by ochreous-yellow forewings and dark grey hindwings. The species is widely distributed across Europe and North America, where its larvae mine the leaves of various grasses and sedges. Adults are active in June. The common name "buff grass-miner" refers to both its coloration and larval feeding habit.
Perittia serica
Perittia serica is a small moth in the family Elachistidae, first described by Kaila in 1995. The species is known only from Colorado, with forewings measuring approximately 6 mm in length. Very little is known about its biology, ecology, or life history.
Stephensia
Stephensia is a genus of moths in the family Elachistidae, a group of small, often inconspicuous microlepidoptera. The genus name has been used for multiple taxa across kingdoms, including a genus of fungi (Pyronemataceae) and historically as a synonym for a tachinid fly genus (Microsoma), but in entomological contexts refers primarily to the moth genus. The genus contains multiple described species distributed primarily in the Palearctic region.