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 – 
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines 
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce 
– Leaf-miner
– 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 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.
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Last Recorded Year: 2021
Last Recorded By – The late Claire Miles
Last Recorded General Area – Hathersage
Selected Images: Kings Newton, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1996 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
This chart summarises all available historical occurrence records collated by ISO week of the year. It reflects recorder effort and sampling distribution as well as true biological activity, and should be interpreted as an indicative pattern of seasonal occurrence rather than a statistically controlled abundance or phenology model.
Distribution Map for Elachista argentella
Found 72 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 21 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 51 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 21 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 51 from Before 2020
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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
⚠️ Please wait for the map to load fully – do not click the link shown.
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.
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
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
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 Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gang Mine, Cromford | SK25X | 23/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42573634 |
| Gang Mine, Cromford | SK25X | 19/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42442449 |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 15/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42556055 |
| Chee Dale: Station Quarry | SK17G | 17/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Harvey, Martin C. | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41710528 |
| CheeDale Quarry Reserve | SK17G | 17/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Taylor, Sue | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41864955 |
| Markham Vale Derbyshire | SK47K | 11/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Morris, Sid ( M.V. Trapping group ) | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41542389 |
| rose end meadows | SK25Y | 10/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41483495 |
| Jim Mart Nature Reserve | SK36S | 10/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Mahadevan, Nikki | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41477894 |
| Markham Vale South Tip | SK47K | 10/05/2025 | 3 | adult | Radford, Mark | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41486327 |
| Markham Vale South Tip | SK47K | 09/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Radford, Mark | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41485953 |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 19/07/2024 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC37493340 |
| Ashford Marble Mill | SK16Z | 09/07/2024 | 1 | adult | Steven Bell | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40548628 |
| Tansley Dale, Litton, Derbyshire | SK17S | 30/05/2023 | 1 | adult | Miles, Claire | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC30591059 |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 19/07/2022 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35090136 |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 08/07/2022 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35089857 |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 21/06/2022 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC28832367 |
| Orchid Wood | SK43L | 08/05/2022 | 1 | adult | Bryce, Marion | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC25275450 |
| Orchid Wood | SK43L | 08/05/2022 | 1 | adult | Bryce, Marion | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC25291750 |
| Birch Vale | SK08I | 21/07/2021 | 1 | Adult | Hewitt, Jane | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34472485 |
| Hathersage, Derbyshire, UK | SK28F | 09/06/2021 | 1 | adult | Miles, Claire | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC29584313 |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 15/06/2020 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35095168 |
| Hathersage, Derbyshire, UK | SK28F | 07/07/2019 | 1 | adult | Miles, Claire | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC12545690 |
| Hathersage, Derbyshire, UK | SK28F | 25/06/2019 | 1 | adult | Miles, Claire | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC12674452 |
| Lightwood | SK07M | 25/07/2018 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC49168275 |
| Birch Vale | SK08I | 10/06/2018 | 1 | adult | Hewitt, Jane | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40106752 |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 23/05/2018 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC49165736 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 31/05/2017 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34060091 |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 28/06/2015 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC48845673 |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 15/06/2015 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC48845351 |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 13/06/2014 | 2 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41012848 |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 09/06/2014 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41012792 |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 06/06/2014 | 3 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41012764 |
| Millennium Meadow NR, Duffield | SK34L | 05/06/2014 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP9IM |
| Backgarden Marehay | SK34Z | 01/06/2014 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33506389 |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 19/07/2013 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40991060 |
| Backgarden Marehay | SK34Z | 06/07/2013 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33508112 |
| Backgarden Marehay | SK34Z | 30/06/2013 | 2 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33507937 |
| Ladycroft Ave,Buxton | SK07S | 27/06/2012 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COY47 |
| Ladycroft Ave,Buxton | SK07S | 01/06/2012 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP7RA |
| Longstone Edge,Great Longstone | SK17W | 10/06/2011 | 1 | Adult | Barnacle, Brian | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP6YQ |
| Ladycroft Ave,Buxton | SK07S | 07/06/2011 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COXO5 |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 04/06/2011 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC22503690 |
| Ladycroft Ave,Buxton | SK07S | 03/06/2011 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP6XP |
| Backgarden Marehay | SK34Z | 02/06/2011 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33512492 |
| Bamford St,Ripley | SK34Z | 02/06/2011 | 1 | Adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP6X6 |
| Ladycroft Ave,Buxton | SK07S | 17/05/2011 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP6VJ |
| Backgarden Marehay | SK34Z | 09/05/2011 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33512300 |
| Bamford St,Ripley | SK34Z | 09/05/2011 | 1 | Adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COTT8 |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 30/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP9R0 |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 30/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP9RA |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 30/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP9RQ |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 25/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COXB8 |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 25/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP638 |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 25/07/2010 | 2 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP63Z |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 25/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP641 |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 06/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COTAE |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 2 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP5CX |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP5D2 |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP5D9 |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP5DK |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP5DT |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 07/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COX3C |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 07/06/2010 | 2 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COX3K |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 05/07/2009 | 1 | Adult | D. Grundy;M.J. Dale | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COSSY |
| Foremark Resr, Ticknall | SK32H | 30/05/2006 | 1 | Adult | Topliss, Neil | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COS7L |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 13/07/2005 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34677523 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 13/07/2005 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COVUL |
| Church St,Holloway,Matlock | SK35I | 17/06/2005 | 1 | Adult | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP2HU |
| Carvers Rocks (new plantation),Hartshorne,Swadlincote | SK32G | 31/05/2004 | 1 | Adult | Topliss, Neil | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP1OT |
| Newhall (Nadins field area),Swadlincote | SK22Q | 16/05/2004 | 1 | Adult | Dave Budworth | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP1NZ |
| Borrowash (Canal), Borrowash, Derby | SK43C | 19/07/1996 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP1AA |
| Millers Dale (west of Litton Mill) | SK17L | 06/07/1996 | 1 | Adult | R.F. Botterill | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP19Q |