Elachista
Encyclopedia
Elachista is a genus
of gelechioid moth
s. It is the type genus
of the grass-miner moth family
(Elachistidae). This family is sometimes (in particular in older sources) circumscribed very loosely, including for example the Agonoxenidae
and Ethmiidae
which seem to be quite distinct among the Gelechioidea, as well as other lineages which are widely held to be closer to Oecophora
than to Elachista and are thus placed in the concealer moth family Oecophoridae here.
These grass-miners are very small moths with the "feather
y" hindwings characteristic of their family. They are essentially found worldwide, except in very cold places and on some oceanic islands; as usual for Gelechioidea, they are most common in the Palearctic
however. They usually have at least one, sometimes as many as three light bands running from leading to trailing edge of their forewing uppersides. Some species
, however, have upper forewings that are mostly white.
of this large genus have been discovered yet, let alone validly described and named. Several small genera, e.g. Biselachista and Cosmiotes, are here included in Elachista as junior synonyms (see below). They seem to be at least as closely related to E. bifasciella
(the type species
of the present genus) than other species commonly placed here, if not actually closer. In addition, Elachista contains several cryptic species complex
es – such as the one around E. dispunctella
and E. triseriatella
– whose systematics
and taxonomy
are still not fully resolved.
A number of Elachista species have been assigned to one of several groups, which may or may not be monophyletic, and whose names in the literature do not consistently follow the usual taxonomic practice (i.e. using as namesake the group-member which was described first). Some of these groups are placed in either of the two large subgenera Elachista (Aphelosetia) and Elachista (Elachista). Other proposed subgenera – the small Elachista (Dibrachia) and Elachista (Hemiprosopa) – are here included in the species of unclear relationships; like some small species-groups, they stand a chance of rendering the two larger subgenera paraphyletic if accepted as distinct, but seem too unlike them to warrant placement in either.
(type of Aphelosetia) Elachista habeleri Traugott-Olsen, 1990
Elachista ripula
Kaila, 1998 Elachista triatomea
Elachista virgatula Kaila, 1997 (type of Aphigalia)
bedellella/unifasciella group (including collitella group)
Elachista (Aphelosetia) incertae sedis
gerasmia group, gerasmia section
gerasmia group, catarata section
erebophthalma group
"Cosmiotes"/freyerella group
tetragonella group
Elachista (Elachista) incertae sedis
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of gelechioid moth
Gelechioidea
| name = Curved-horn moths| image = Xylorycta assimilis.jpg| image_width = 240px| image_caption = Adult Xylorycta assimilis of the Xyloryctidae, photographed in Aranda Note prominent "horns" and long antennae| regnum = Animalia| phylum = Arthropoda...
s. It is the type genus
Type genus
In biological classification, a type genus is a representative genus, as with regard to a biological family. The term and concept is used much more often and much more formally in zoology than it is in botany, and the definition is dependent on the nomenclatural Code that applies:* In zoological...
of the grass-miner moth family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
(Elachistidae). This family is sometimes (in particular in older sources) circumscribed very loosely, including for example the Agonoxenidae
Agonoxenidae
The Agonoxenidae are a family of moths only contains four named species in the whole world – all in the type genus Agonoxena – if the Blastodacnidae are considered to be a separate family...
and Ethmiidae
Ethmiidae
Ethmiidae is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. It is sometimes included in the Elachistidae or the Oecophoridae as a subfamily Ethmiinae.-Genera:...
which seem to be quite distinct among the Gelechioidea, as well as other lineages which are widely held to be closer to Oecophora
Oecophora
Oecophora is a genus of the concealer moth family . Among these, it belongs to subfamily Oecophorinae. It is the type genus of its subfamily and family...
than to Elachista and are thus placed in the concealer moth family Oecophoridae here.
These grass-miners are very small moths with the "feather
Feather
Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds and some non-avian theropod dinosaurs. They are considered the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates, and indeed a premier example of a complex evolutionary novelty. They...
y" hindwings characteristic of their family. They are essentially found worldwide, except in very cold places and on some oceanic islands; as usual for Gelechioidea, they are most common in the Palearctic
Palearctic
The Palearctic or Palaearctic is one of the eight ecozones dividing the Earth's surface.Physically, the Palearctic is the largest ecozone...
however. They usually have at least one, sometimes as many as three light bands running from leading to trailing edge of their forewing uppersides. Some species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, however, have upper forewings that are mostly white.
Selected species
Not all speciesSpecies
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of this large genus have been discovered yet, let alone validly described and named. Several small genera, e.g. Biselachista and Cosmiotes, are here included in Elachista as junior synonyms (see below). They seem to be at least as closely related to E. bifasciella
Elachista bifasciella
Elachista bifasciella is a moth of the Elachistidae family. It is found from Sweden to the Pyrenees, Italy and Romania and from the Netherlands to Poland. It is the type species of the Elachista genus.The wingspan is 7-9 mm...
(the type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of the present genus) than other species commonly placed here, if not actually closer. In addition, Elachista contains several cryptic species complex
Cryptic species complex
In biology, a cryptic species complex is a group of species which satisfy the biological definition of species—that is, they are reproductively isolated from each other—but whose morphology is very similar ....
es – such as the one around E. dispunctella
Elachista dispunctella
Elachista dispunctella is a moth of the Elachistidae family. It is found in most of Europe, except most of the Balkan Peninsula, Fennoscandia, the Benelux, Portugal, Great Britain, Ireland and Iceland....
and E. triseriatella
Elachista triseriatella
Elachista triseriatella is a moth of the Elachistidae family. It is found from Great Britain, Denmark and Latvia to Spain and Italy.The wingspan is about 7 mm. The forewings are white with three rows of black scales on the disc. The hindwings are are grey. Adults are on wing from June to...
– whose systematics
Systematics
Biological systematics is the study of the diversification of terrestrial life, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees...
and taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
are still not fully resolved.
A number of Elachista species have been assigned to one of several groups, which may or may not be monophyletic, and whose names in the literature do not consistently follow the usual taxonomic practice (i.e. using as namesake the group-member which was described first). Some of these groups are placed in either of the two large subgenera Elachista (Aphelosetia) and Elachista (Elachista). Other proposed subgenera – the small Elachista (Dibrachia) and Elachista (Hemiprosopa) – are here included in the species of unclear relationships; like some small species-groups, they stand a chance of rendering the two larger subgenera paraphyletic if accepted as distinct, but seem too unlike them to warrant placement in either.
Subgenus Elachista (Aphelosetia)
argentella group (sometimes in bedellella group)Elachista argentella
Elachista argentella is a moth of the family Elachistidae. It is found in all of Europe, except the Balkan Peninsula.The wingspan is 11-12 mm...
(type of Aphelosetia)
Elachista ripula
Elachista ripula is a moth of the Elachistidae family. It is found in Finland and northern Russia....
Kaila, 1998
Elachista triatomea
Elachista triatomea is a moth of the Elachistidae family. It is found in Ireland, Great Britain, Fennoscandia, Denmark, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania.The wingspan is 8-9 mm...
bedellella/unifasciella group (including collitella group)
Elachista (Aphelosetia) incertae sedis
Subgenus Elachista (Atachia)
These are sorted in the presumed phylogenetic sequence.gerasmia group, gerasmia section
gerasmia group, catarata section
erebophthalma group
- Elachista erebophthalmaElachista erebophthalmaElachista erebophthalma is a moth of the Elachistidae family. It is found in southernmost Victoria.The wingspan is about 8.8 mm for males. The forewings are pale grey with dark grey tipped scales. The hindwings and fringe scales are grey....
- Elachista evexaElachista evexaElachista evexa is a moth of the Elachistidae family. It is found in New South Wales.The wingspan is about 12 mm for males and 11.4-12 mm for females. The forewings are pale yellowish to greyish white with some scattered grey scales. The hindwings are grey with an ochreous white fringe....
- Elachista rhomboideaElachista rhomboideaElachista rhomboidea is a moth of the Elachistidae family. It is found along the western coast of Western Australia.The wingspan is about 11.3 mm. The forewings are pale grey, powdered with pale brownish grey-tipped scales. The hindwings and fringes are grey....
- Elachista leucastraElachista leucastraElachista leucastra is a moth of the Elachistidae family. It is found in Tasmania.The wingspan is about 12 mm. The forewings and hindwings are dark grey....
Subgenus Elachista (Elachista)
"Cosmiotes"/freyerella group
tetragonella group
Elachista (Elachista) incertae sedis