Species Details

ABH: 38.004

BF: 610

Family: Elachistidae

Taxon: Elachista argentella

=Elachista cygnipennella

Authority: (Clerck, 1759)

Vernacular: Silver Grass-miner

Account: Common in grassland and saltmarshes throughout much of the British Isles The only plain white species other than Mendesia farinella, from which it can be separated by its smaller size, non-ciliate antenna and reduced venation (MBGBI Vol 3). Larva mines leaves of various grasses.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 11 — 12 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 1 May (2012) — 24 Jun (2025)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Bromus sterilis, Dactylis sp., Gramineae., Phalaris arundinacea (Reed Canary-grass).

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Common

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/elachista-argentella/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 88

Individuals: 4

Earliest Year: 2000

Latest Year: 2025

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