Elachista menura

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

Elachista menura is a moth of the Elachistidae family that is found in the coastal areas and mountainous areas of New South Wales and Queensland.^[1]

The wingspan is 7.5–9.3 millimetres (0.30–0.37 in) for males and 8.1–10 millimetres (0.32–0.39 in) for females. The forewings are dark bluish grey and the hindwings are dark grey. Females have a large rounded creamy white patch at the distal part of the wing.

The larvae feed on Gahnia clarkei. They mine the leaves of their host plant. Several larvae may be found on a single leaf. Pupation takes place outside of the mine on a leaf of the host plant. Larvae can be found from July to October.

References

1. Lauri Kaila. "Elachistine Moths of Australia: Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea, Elachistidae". Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera. CSIRO. 11.