Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Elachista velutina

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Class
  
Insecta

Family
  
Elachistidae

Rank
  
Species

Phylum
  
Arthropoda

Order
  
Lepidoptera

Genus
  
Elachista

Elachista velutina is a moth of the Elachistidae family that is found on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia.

The wingspan is 10.4–14 millimetres (0.41–0.55 in) for males and 11.2–13 millimetres (0.44–0.51 in) for females. The forewings are pale grey while the hindwings are grey.

The larvae feed on Lepidosperma longitudinale and possibly Lepidosperma limicola. 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

Elachista velutina Wikipedia