Bedstraw Hawk-moth - Hyles gallii
Elachistidae
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Elachista stabilella
Photo © Neil Sherman,  Purdis Farm, Ipswich. June 2011. Gen.det.

Similar Suffolk Species
Elachista freyerella
Elachista freyerella
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Elachista stabilella

Stainton, 1858633 / 38.049
=Cosmiotes stabilella

Morley's Final Catalogue: Local and mainly southern. Southwold in 1897 (Crutwell).

Recent Status: The species is recorded in Suffolk

Life Style: A double or triple brooded species. The larvae mine downwards in a variety of grasses. They pupate in a dense cocoon.

Identification: There are three Elachista species of the once Cosmiotes genus that can be identified by a combination of Genitalia dissection and head colour. E. consortella male lacks a hook on the valve and the female has a short antrum narrowing abruptly. E. freyerella and E. stabilella both have a white frons but in E. stabilella the vertex becomes speckled fuscous grey. For differences in the genitalia of these species the moth dissection site should be referred to. The forewings are dark with white markings. There is a small spot on the base of the dorsum, a fascia at one third, opposed tornal and costal spots separated by a narrow dark bar and a narrow band at the termen. Females are darker than males. Marking may be obscure.
The larvae of these species mine a variety of grasses except that E. consortella is stated to be specific to Poa annua. The larvae are stated as having different head and prothoracic plate colour. Yellowish for E. consortella, black for E. freyerella and pale brown for E. stabilella.

Determination by Genitalia Examination (gen. det.) Required

Recorded in 6 (10%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1897.
Last Recorded in 2025.
Additional Stats

Elachista consortella | Blastodacna hellerella >

Determination
Butley 20 July 23 - Raymond A Watson
List Species Records   [Show All Latest]
Latest 5 Records
Date#VC10k Area
18/09/2025125TM25 - Wickham Market/Otley
26/06/2024126TL96 - Thurston/Elmswell
20/07/2023125TM34 - Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
24/09/2021125TM24 - Woodbridge/Martlesham
15/09/2019125TM24 - Woodbridge/Martlesham
Show Details | 1990 to 2025 | 2000 to 2025 | Graph Key
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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Wingspan: 7-8mm.
Flight: Two Generations. May-June. July-August
Foodplant:   Various grasses
Nat Status: Nationally Scarce B
Verification Grade:  Adult: 4
 Immature Adult   [Show Flight Times]
     
Underlying maps using Digital Map Data © Norfolk Online Lepidoptera Archive - NOLA™ - Suffolk 2026. © James Wheeler - Norfolk Moths 2007 - 2026. Data © NOLA™ - Suffolk 2026
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