– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines 
– Uncertain/Unknown – Insufficient Data 
– Leaf Miner
– care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required. Confusion Species: Elachista albifrontella,
Elachista atricomella.
ID pointers: An attractively marked little moth that favours grassland. A yellow head, overall blackish grey with varying spots/blotches of creamy white, and can show a cross-band at one third from wing base. Can be confused with Elachista albifrontella & Elachista atricomella.
Distribution: (First record: 1952 ) – (Last record: 31 May 2024 at Staunton Harold Reservoir ) – No reported records since 1952, until c12 were sweep-netted at Staunton Harold Reservoir on 31st May 2024. Two were taken for Genitalia Determination, by Graham Finch, and were identified to this species. Suspect the species is common, just over-looked. If in doubt with ID then CAT 4 applies.
General Comment: None Mine Period Additional: Long white gallery mine
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: 2024
First Recorded Year: 1952
Last Recorded By – Graham Finch
Last Recorded General Area – Staunton Harold Reservoir
Selected Images: Staunton Harold Reservoir, Derbyshire – Graham Finch©
Image Gallery
No gallery images found for this moth.
Distribution Map for Elachista luticomella
Found 4 records
↳ 0 from After 2025
↳ 0 from 2020 - 2024
↳ 4 from Before 2020
↳ 0 from After 2025
↳ 0 from 2020 - 2024
↳ 4 from Before 2020
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 luticomella
⚠️ 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 luticomella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year: Elachista luticomella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Elachista luticomella
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
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Recordings By Year: Elachista luticomella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Elachista luticomella
AGR: 0% | Total % Change: 0%
Elachista luticomella
Insufficient records/data for an AGR analysis
Years Analysed: 2000 – 2025
Elachista luticomella
Insufficient records/data for a CUSUM analysis
Years Analysed: 2000 – 2025
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Elachista luticomella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Elachista luticomella
Elachista luticomella
( data includes Adult Stage only )
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 2020-2025.
Mine Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Elachista luticomella
Elachista luticomella
( 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 2020-2025.
Records Behind the Map and Charts - Elachista luticomella – 4 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tideswell Dale | SK17L | 09/06/2007 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Cunning Dale, Buxton (site not precise) | SK07W | 07/07/1997 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Slagmill Plantation, Beeley Moor (site not precise) | SK36E | 17/06/1997 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Crich Chase (canal area), Ambergate (site not precise) | SK35L | 26/06/1994 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |