Domain Eukarya Phylum Arthropoda Order Lepidoptera Rank Species | Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Elachistidae | |
Elachista saarelai is a moth of the Elachistidae family that is endemic to southern Finland.
The wingspan is 6–8.5 millimetres (0.24–0.33 in) for males and 7.5–9 millimetres (0.30–0.35 in) for females.
The larvae feed on Carex digitata and possibly Carex pediformis. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine starts from the middle of the length of the leaf and is directed upwards. The larva hibernates within this mine and continues mining in the same leaf during spring. By the end of June, the mine occupies the whole width of the leaf, and is turned downwards after reaching the tip of the leaf. It mines until August or September and then hibernates within the mine for the second time. Pupation takes place outside of the mine on a leaf of the host plant.