Elachista carcharota

Elachista carcharota
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Elachistidae
Genus:	Elachista
Species:	E. carcharota
Binomial name
Elachista carcharota Kaila, 2011

Elachista carcharota is a moth of the Elachistidae family. It is found in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.^[1]

The wingspan is 11.6–12.9 millimetres (0.46–0.51 in) for males. The forewings are pale grey. The hindwings are grey.

The larvae feed on Lepidosperma concavum and possibly Lepidosperma congestum. They mine the leaves of their host plant. Young larvae mine upwards, creating a straight and narrow initial stage of the mine. Later, the mine slowly widens and turns downwards. The whole mine, except the last 20 millimetres (0.79 in), is filled with frass. Pupation takes place outside of the mine on a leaf of the host plant.

References

1. Lauri Kaila (2011). "Elachistine Moths of Australia: Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea, Elachistidae". Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera (CSIRO) 11.