Stephensia brunnichella       Elachista triatomea
elachista argentella
38.004 BF610  – Silver Grass-miner  – Elachista argentella  – (Clerck, 1759)
Adult Micro:  CAT 1 – Distinctive species unlikely to be confused with others –       Leaf-miner:  CAT L – The leaf or a Photo required – reared and possibly dissected      
PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce        purple – Leaf-miner
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Elachistidae
Other Name/s: Swan-feather Dwarf
ID Difficulty:  green  – easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.
ID pointers: Small and all white making it quite easy to identify.
Distribution:  (Last record: 9 June 2021 at Hathersage )  –  Likely this species is uncommon and under recorded – 33 records 1996 – 2014; (Danes) Hathersage 2021 & 7 records 2018 – 2024 ; (iRecord) 9/7/2024 – Ashford Marble Mill (DMFG)
General Comment: None Flight Period: May /  June /  July /  August –  On the wing in May early August. Mine Period:  January /  February /  March /  April /  May /  September /  October /  November /  December
Mine Period Additional: Autumn to May – The mine fills the leaf width and appears as a white narrow mine from the tip of the leaf downwards.
Mine ID Difficulty: Not Recorded
Mine Type/s: Not Recorded
Mine Feeding Method/s: Not Recorded
Mine Comment: None. Moth Activity: Nocturnal  Crepuscular   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Tony Davison  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 11-12mm
 Food Plant: Various grasses.
Last Recorded Year: 2021
Last Recorded By – The late Claire Miles
Last Recorded General Area – Hathersage
Selected Images:  Kings Newton, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

elachista argentella
Elachista argentella
elachista argentella


Image Gallery

38.004 BF610 - Elachista argentella Kings Newton, Derbyshire -Tony Davison©

Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1996 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)

Distribution Map for Elachista argentella

Found 72 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 21 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 51 from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Mining
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

If the Map Layers function fails, just refresh the page and it should be OK after. Use the +- zoom on the top left, or on a tablet, use two fingers to zoom. Remember, the last layer you ticked is the one which displays the popup information - they sit on top of each other - de-select then re-select, to see the popup values.

Bedrock Geology ** indirectly affects moth distribution by influencing the type of habitat and food plants available in an area. In turn, this may affect the types of moths that can thrive, or where they can most likely be found.


NBN Atlas UK Distribution for – Elachista argentella

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Note – the NBN Atlas datasets are listed in the map below and vary in their currency (uptodateness) – however, the map does give a general indication of the moth's distribution across the UK.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Elachista argentella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Elachista argentella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )

First/Last Recorded Dates: Elachista argentella
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]

Shading shows moth presence between dates

Click the colour discs below to Select/De-select as Required

Recordings By Year: Elachista argentella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Elachista argentella
AGR: 0.87%   |   Total % Change: 20%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Elachista argentella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Elachista argentella

Flight Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's flight periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen in flight, from site observation records received between 2020-2026.

Mine Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Elachista argentella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Mine Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's mine periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen mining, from site observation records received between 2020-2026.

Records Behind the Map and Charts - Elachista argentella – 72 records available

Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns

Site NameTetradDateCountStageRecorderSourceRecordKey
Gang Mine, CromfordSK25X23/06/20251adultAshton, Clivevc57_irecords_extractiBRC42573634
Gang Mine, CromfordSK25X19/06/20251adultAshton, Clivevc57_irecords_extractiBRC42442449
Ladycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S15/06/20251adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC42556055
Chee Dale: Station QuarrySK17G17/05/20251adultHarvey, Martin C.vc57_irecords_extractiBRC41710528
CheeDale Quarry ReserveSK17G17/05/20251adultTaylor, Suevc57_irecords_extractiBRC41864955
Markham Vale DerbyshireSK47K11/05/20251adultMorris, Sid ( M.V. Trapping group )vc57_irecords_extractiBRC41542389
Jim Mart Nature ReserveSK36S10/05/20251adultMahadevan, Nikkivc57_irecords_extractiBRC41477894
rose end meadowsSK25Y10/05/20251adultAshton, Clivevc57_irecords_extractiBRC41483495
Markham Vale South TipSK47K10/05/20253adultRadford, Markvc57_irecords_extractiBRC41486327
Markham Vale South TipSK47K09/05/20251adultRadford, Markvc57_irecords_extractiBRC41485953
Ladycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S19/07/20241adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC37493340
Ashford Marble MillSK16Z09/07/20241adultSteven Bellvc57_irecords_extractiBRC40548628
Tansley Dale, Litton, DerbyshireSK17S30/05/20231adultMiles, Clairevc57_irecords_extractiBRC30591059
Ladycroft AveSK07S19/07/20221adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC35090136
Ladycroft AveSK07S08/07/20221adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC35089857
Buxton SK, UKSK07S21/06/20221AdultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC28832367
Orchid WoodSK43L08/05/20221adultBryce, Marionvc57_irecords_extractiBRC25275450
Orchid WoodSK43L08/05/20221adultBryce, Marionvc57_irecords_extractiBRC25291750
Birch ValeSK08I21/07/20211AdultHewitt, Janevc57_irecords_extractiBRC34472485
Hathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F09/06/20211adultMiles, Clairevc57_irecords_extractiBRC29584313
Ladycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S15/06/20201adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC35095168
Hathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F07/07/20191adultMiles, Clairevc57_irecords_extractiBRC12545690
Hathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F25/06/20191adultMiles, Clairevc57_irecords_extractiBRC12674452
LightwoodSK07M25/07/20181adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC49168275
Birch ValeSK08I10/06/20181adultHewitt, Janevc57_irecords_extractiBRC40106752
Ladycroft AveSK07S23/05/20181adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC49165736
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y31/05/20171AdultSoar, Willvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34060091
Ladycroft AveSK07S28/06/20151adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC48845673
Ladycroft AveSK07S15/06/20151adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC48845351
Ladycroft AveSK07S13/06/20142adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC41012848
Ladycroft AveSK07S09/06/20141adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC41012792
Ladycroft AveSK07S06/06/20143adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC41012764
Millennium Meadow NR, DuffieldSK34L05/06/20141AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP9IM
Backgarden MarehaySK34Z01/06/20141adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33506389
Ladycroft AveSK07S19/07/20131adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC40991060
Backgarden MarehaySK34Z06/07/20131adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33508112
Backgarden MarehaySK34Z30/06/20132adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33507937
Ladycroft Ave,BuxtonSK07S27/06/20121AdultOrridge, Stevevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COY47
Ladycroft Ave,BuxtonSK07S01/06/20121AdultOrridge, Stevevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP7RA
Longstone Edge,Great LongstoneSK17W10/06/20111AdultBarnacle, Brianvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP6YQ
Ladycroft Ave,BuxtonSK07S07/06/20111AdultOrridge, Stevevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COXO5
Buxton SK, UKSK07S04/06/20111AdultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC22503690
Ladycroft Ave,BuxtonSK07S03/06/20111AdultOrridge, Stevevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP6XP
Backgarden MarehaySK34Z02/06/20111adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33512492
Bamford St,RipleySK34Z02/06/20111AdultThorpe, Stevevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP6X6
Ladycroft Ave,BuxtonSK07S17/05/20111AdultOrridge, Stevevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP6VJ
Backgarden MarehaySK34Z09/05/20111adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33512300
Bamford St,RipleySK34Z09/05/20111AdultThorpe, Stevevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COTT8
DovedaleSK15K30/07/20101AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP9R0
DovedaleSK15K30/07/20101AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP9RA
DovedaleSK15K30/07/20101AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP9RQ
DovedaleSK15K25/07/20101AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COXB8
DovedaleSK15K25/07/20101AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP638
DovedaleSK15K25/07/20102AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP63Z
DovedaleSK15K25/07/20101AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP641
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P06/07/20101AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COTAE
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P12/06/20102AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP5CX
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P12/06/20101AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP5D2
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P12/06/20101AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP5D9
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P12/06/20101AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP5DK
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P12/06/20101AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP5DT
DovedaleSK15K07/06/20101AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COX3C
DovedaleSK15K07/06/20102AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COX3K
DovedaleSK15K05/07/20091AdultD. Grundy;M.J. Dalevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COSSY
Foremark Resr, TicknallSK32H30/05/20061AdultTopliss, Neilvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COS7L
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y13/07/20051AdultSoar, Willvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34677523
Main St,Kings Newton,MelbourneSK32Y13/07/20051AdultSoar, Willvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COVUL
Church St,Holloway,MatlockSK35I17/06/20051AdultF. Harrisonvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP2HU
Carvers Rocks (new plantation),Hartshorne,SwadlincoteSK32G31/05/20041AdultTopliss, Neilvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP1OT
Newhall (Nadins field area),SwadlincoteSK22Q16/05/20041AdultDave Budworthvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP1NZ
Borrowash (Canal), Borrowash, DerbySK43C19/07/19961AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP1AA
Millers Dale (west of Litton Mill)SK17L06/07/19961AdultR.F. Botterillvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP19Q

Stephensia brunnichella       Elachista triatomea

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