Biselachista cf. scirpi

• Subfamily: Elachistinae
• Wingspan: 10-12 mm
• Flight period: May - Aug
• Spread: Uncommon
• Host plants: Juncus sp.

Information

The Biselachista scirpi is a small moth of the Elachistidae family, with a wingspan of 10-12 mm.
In Europe it is present in Portugal, United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Hungary and Romania. In Italy it is also present in the islands. *

The background color of the front wings of the Biselachista scirpi is white or cream with more or less intense hazelnut or brown dusting, concentrated in the postdical, marginal areas and on the inner edge of the wing. The edge is fringed. The hind wings are the same color as the front ones, strongly fringed. The head, the torax and abdomen are cream in color.

The larvae undermine the leaves of their host plant. The mine begins as a narrow mid-leaf corridor and climbs towards the tip. Then it doubles and goes down to the starting point, gradually widening. Scraps are deposited in the oldest part of the mine. **
The pupation takes place outside the mine. **

The larvae can be found from the beginning of March to the beginning of May, they have a light greenish yellow color with a light yellow head. **

The larvae feed on Juncus sp. such as Juncus compressus, Juncus gerardii (swamp rush) and Bolboschoenus maritimus (sea rush).


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Plant Parasites of Europe leafminers, galls and fungi - https://bladmineerders.nl/