Lake Crabtree leaf miner on Festuca subverticillaris D2104 2020 1.1 - Elachista illectella

Moved

Moved from Elachista.

I suspect it is this species based on the cocoon. The pupa looks to be in good shape.

… Charley Eiseman, 27 May, 2020 - 9:11pm

Adult emerged

The wing pattern matches E. illectella.

… Charley Eiseman, 1 June, 2020 - 2:37pm

Moved

Moved from Unidentified Leaf Mines.

Agreed. There are no North American records of Elachista from Festuca.

… Charley Eiseman, 20 May, 2020 - 8:35am

Thank you! Do I need to incl

Thank you! Do I need to include extra leaves for the larva (or do they complete their larval life in one leaf? I can get more tomorrow if necessary.

… Tracy S. Feldman, 20 May, 2020 - 6:26pm

Some extra leaves wouldn't hurt--

They will probably complete development in the leaves they're currently mining, but they are capable of establishing new mines if they need to.

… Charley Eiseman, 20 May, 2020 - 6:40pm

I think the caterpillar has e

I think the caterpillar has exited the mine (or do they pupate in the mines?--I can't tell if it has burrowed into the frass piles further back in the mine). I cannot locate it in the vial, but I do not know where else it could have gone... I hope I haven't lost it somehow... Today I did add a few undamaged leaves as extras--perhaps I should not have opened the vial after all.

… Tracy S. Feldman, 21 May, 2020 - 9:56pm

Elachista larvae do exit to pupate

Usually the pupa is attached to a leaf. It's not impossible that the larva is hiding among the frass in the mine.

… Charley Eiseman, 21 May, 2020 - 10:00pm

I think I actually just spott

I think I actually just spotted it--perpendicular to the leaf veins along a leaf... silk tying it down from side to side... At least I hope that's it... Should I move that leaf to a new vial?

… Tracy S. Feldman, 21 May, 2020 - 10:04pm

Might as well leave it as it is--

I'll figure it out when it gets here.

… Charley Eiseman, 21 May, 2020 - 10:06pm

Sounds good! Thank you!

… Tracy S. Feldman, 20 May, 2020 - 6:45pm