Elachista mundula

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

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

The wingspan is 10–11.4 millimetres (0.39–0.45 in) for males and 7.8–10.5 millimetres (0.31–0.41 in) for females. The forewings are ochreous white and the hindwings are pale grey.

The larvae feed on Gahnia sieberiana. They mine the leaves of their host plant. Young larvae mine downwards, creating a narrow initial gallery. Later, the mine gradually widens and reaches a length of 100–120 mm. 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) 2.