WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Widespread and fairly common throughout the UK. Habitat includes: grassland, meadows etc. Wingspan: 11 - 12 mm. Flight period: May to July. Larvae seen: Late summer to early May. Diet: Larvae = leaves from various Grass species (Agrostis, Avenula pratensis, Avenula pubescens, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromus erectus, Bromus sterilis, Calamagrostis epigejos, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Elymus hispidus, Elymus repens, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Festuca trachyphylla, Festuca valesiaca, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Koeleria glauca, Koeleria grandis, Koeleria macrantha, Leymus arenarius, Phalaris arundinacea, Phleum, Poa pratensis). Life story: The mine starts as a narrow corridor in which the larva hibernates. In March, it leaves the mine to move onto a new leaf where it creates a transparent, full depth mine that descends from the leaf tip, and occupies the entire width of the blade. Most frass is deposited in the oldest upper part of the mine. The larva may leave the mine and restart on a new leaf.