Elachista freyerella

Elachista freyerella

Alternative names
Dark Meadow Grass-miner
Broken-barred Dwarf
Description

Wingspan about 8 mm. This diminutive species varies in the intensity of the grey ground colour; some individuals are quite dark with distinct whiter fasciae, some have rather less contrasting markings.

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Please provide a photograph. Determination by genitalia examination (gen. det.) required to confirm records to full species.

Habitat

Favours damp meadows and woodland rides.

When to see it

There are two generations, with moths on the wing from late April to June and again from late July to September. 

Life History

The larvae mine the blades of various grasses, including Cock's-foot and species of Meadow-grass. The larval mines can be found from March to April and in July.

UK Status

Widespread but rather local in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

VC55 Status

Seems to be scarce in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Reference
38.047 BF631

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

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

UK Map

Additional images

No additional images available for this species.

All NatureSpot records