Elachista solitaria Braun 1922

Elachista solitaria Braun (Figs. 26, 29, 46, 46a, 97, 97a.)
1922. Elachista solitaria Braun, Canad. Ent., liv, 93. Type S, Powell County, Kentucky [A. F. B. Coll.].
Face silvery gray, shading to dark brown on the head posteriorly ; palpi drooping, longer than in radiantella, silvery gray, third segment blackish outwardly; antennae dark brown, slightly thickened in the male, with outer half serrate, without pecten (or if present concealed by the scales overlapping the base of the scape). Thorax silvery gray with bronzy reflections, except anterior border, which is dark brown. Fore wing, venation typical; dark brown, with a scarcely distinguishable reddish luster; a small silvery gray spot at base of costa not reaching below fold; a slightly curved brilliant silvery fascia just before middle; a narrow perpendicular silvery spot at tornus, and beyond it near apex, a larger curved silvery costal mark dilated in the middle of the wing and extending almost to the tip. Apical scales in the male of equal length and forming an even line in the cilia which are white opposite the apex, dark brown elsewhere. Hind wing, M., absent; dark brownish gray. Legs dark brown, femora, tips of segments and a broad band around hind tibiae silvery. Abdomen dark brown above with bronzy luster, silvery beneath in the male (female unknown).
Alar expanse : 5 to 5.5 mm.
Male genitalia (figs. 97, 97a) : uncus lobes widely separated, incurved, but sinus between them shallow ; gnathos knob-shaped ; harpe elongate, narrow, cucullus greatly reduced, free process thus seeming to arise near apex and setose for half its length; sacculus processes very minute, spoon-shaped; anellus lobes obliquely truncate; aedeagus produced at apex into a hook, cornuti a mass of microscopic spines.
Specimens examined: 5 $.
Kentucky: Powell County, 8 type, under rearing record B.1068, with emergence of the imago July 10, 1921; 1 $, rearing record B.1084, imago, June 11, 1922; 2 S, rearing record B.1085, June 15, 1922 [A. F. B. Coll.].
Ohio: Mineral Springs, Adams County, 1 $, under rearing record B.1415, imago, July 10, 1931 [A. F. B. Coll.].
The larvae mine leaves of several species of Panicam. Mining larvae may be found from the end of May to the end of June, depending on the season ; the mine of the type was collected June 26, the mines, B.1084, B.1085, May 28, and the mine, B.1415, June 27. The e §"S (fi&2 6) is flattened ovoid, with branching and anastomosing ridges, and is placed on the upper side of the leaf. The mine (fig. 29) at first very narrow with a conspicuous line of frass, later enlarges into a whitish translucent blotch.
The pupa (figs. 46, 46a) is covered by a very slight cocoon, and is attached to the pupating surface by the anal end and a silken median girdle ; cuticle shining. It resembles that of radiantella, but differs from it in the more prominent ridges of the abdomen, larger mesothoracic tubercles, in sculpturing of thorax and head, and, principally, by the presence of lines of tubercles on the wings.
There are probably two generations a year as in radiantella.
A rare species, probably of more restricted range than E. radiantella, its nearest ally, from which it is distinguished by venation — M 2 of fore wing present and cubitus of the hind wing forked ; by basal wingmarkings and by differences in male genitalia. The female is unknown, but when discovered will doubtless possess the dense abdominal tuft present in the other two species of the group.

Elachista solitaria is a moth of the family Elachistidae. It is found in the United States, where it has been recorded from Florida, Kentucky and Ohio.

The wingspan is 5-5.5 mm. The forewings are dark brown, with a slight reddish luster and a small silvery gray spot at the base of the costa, as well as a brilliant silvery fascia just before the middle and a narrow silvery spot at the tornus. Beyond this, near the apex, is a larger silvery costal mark. The hindwings are dark brownish gray. Adults have been recorded on wing from June to July.

The larvae feed on Panicum species. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine starts as a very narrow gallery with a conspicuous line of frass. Later, the mine is enlarged into a whitish translucent blotch. Mining larvae can be found from the end of May to the end of June.