Grass miner moths, family Elachistidae, comprise about 723 species worldwide, but most are Palearctic (472 sp.), and many are in the genus Elachista. Two subfamilies are used, or only tribes: Perittiinae and Elachistinae. The family is part of the super family Gelechioidea in the section Tineina, subsection Tineina, of the division Ditrysia. Adults small (5–23 mm wingspan), with head smooth-scaled; haustellum scaled; labial palpi upcurved but sometimes porrect; maxillary palpi minute, 1 to 2-segmented. Wings narrow and lanceolate, with reduced venation, but with large hindwing fringes (Fig. 49). Maculation often white with various markings or bands, or darker, sometimes with iridescence. Adults are often crespuscular or nocturnal, but some are diurnal. Larvae are leafminers (sometimes gregarious) or stem miners, especially on grasses (Gramineae) and related plant groups like Juncaceae and Cyperaceae, but other plant families are also utilized.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Braun AF (1948) Elachistidae of North America (Microlepidoptera). Mem Am Entomol Soc 13:1–110, pl. 26
Kaila L (1996–1999) A revision of the Nearctic Elachistidae s.l. (Lepidoptera, Elachistidae). Entomologica Scandinavica 27:217–238 (1996); Acta Zoologica Fennica 206:1–93 (1997), 211:1–235 (1999)
Keila L (1999) Phylogeny and classification of the Elachistidae s.s. (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea). Syst Entomol 24:139–169
Traugott-Olsen E (1995–1996) Phylogeny of the Elachistinae s.str. (Lepidoptera, Elachistidae). SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia 23:153–180, 257–290, 417–449 (1995); 24:129–149 (1996)
Traugott-Olsen E, Nielsen ES (1977) The Elachistidae (Lepidoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark. In: Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica, 6:1–299. Scandinavian Science Press, Klampenborg
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this entry
Cite this entry
Heppner, J.B. (2008). Grass Miner Moths (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae). In: Capinera, J.L. (eds) Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_1171
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_1171
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-6242-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-6359-6
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences