Elachista atricomella is a moth of the family Elachistidae that is found in Europe.
Description The wingspan is about . The head is blackish, whitish sprinkled, face in female whitish. Male forewings have an interrupted, rather oblique fascia before the middle, a tornal spot, and a bigger triangular mark beyond it on the white costa. Hindwings are dark grey. The larva is pale yellowish; head pale brown; 2 with two yellow brown marks. Emmet, A. M. (Hrsg.) (1985): The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Volume 3 (Yponomeutidae to Elachistidae). Harley Books, Colchester, Essex.Fal’kovich;M. .I., 1990 Elachistidae; in G.S. Medvedev (ed.): Keys to the insects of the europaean part of the USSR, Vol.IV: Lepidoptera, part 2 (english translation), Oxonian Press Pvt.Ltd., New Dehli, 1987
The moth flies from May to September depending on the location.
The larvae mines the leaves of cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata). Larvae regularly vacate the mine and begin elsewhere. Pupation takes place outside of the mine. Larvae can be found from late autumn to May. They are greenish yellow with a light brown head.
Distribution The moth is found in most of Europe, except the Iberian Peninsula, Balkan Peninsula and the Mediterranean Islands.
References
External links Lepiforum de
External links Plant Parasites of Europe