Discover
Identify
Record
Elachista albifrontella
White-headed Dwarf
Wingspan about 10 mm. Named after the noticeably whitish forehead, the most likely confusion species is E. apicipunctella, which however has an additional white spot in the apical area of the forewing.
There are other very similar species in this genus which means that detailed examination of an actual specimen is generally needed to identify the exact species. A red box around the image indicates that we think it is likely to be this species but can't be 100% certain.
Inhabits a range of grassland habitats.
The adults fly in a single generation from late May to July.
During September until around May, the larva mines a blade of a variety of grasses, leading to a pale blotch, sometimes moving between blades.
This is a quite common species throughout most of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
It appears to be uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, where there are few records. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
Enter a town or village to see local records
MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015
UK Map
Species profile
- Common names
- White-headed Dwarf
- Species group:
- Moths
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Lepidoptera
- Family:
- Elachistidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 9
- First record:
- 27/05/2011 (Nicholls, David)
- Last record:
- 27/07/2023 (Higgott, Mike)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.