''Elachista coalita'' is a moth of the family Elachistidae first described by

Lauri Kaila Lauri Kaila is a Finnish entomologist and researcher of biodiversity, specializing in Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About ...

in 2011. It is found in south-eastern Australia, including the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Tasmania.Elachistine Moths of Australia: Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea, Elachistidae
/ref> The wingspan is 6.2-8.1 mm for males and 7-7.2 mm for females. The forewings are pale grey for males and black with a bronzy sheen and four white markings for females. The hindwings are grey. The larvae feed on ''

Joycea pallida ''Rytidosperma pallidum'' (syn. '' Joycea pallida''), commonly known as red-anther wallaby grass, is an Australian species of tussock grass found in Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. The grass has flowers in Decemb ...

''. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine is straight and gradually widens. It reaches a length of about 200 mm. The

frass Frass refers loosely to the more or less solid excreta of insects, and to certain other related matter. Definition and etymology ''Frass'' is an informal term and accordingly it is variously used and variously defined. It is derived from the G ...

is deposited in a dense block in the rear of the mine. Pupation takes place outside of the mine on either a leaf or a twig of the host plant.

References

Moths described in 2011 coalita Moths of Australia {{Elachista-stub