Aphanisticus pusillus (Olivier, 1790)

Widespread and locally common across southern Europe from Portugal to Greece but becoming more sporadic and scarce further north to the UK, Denmark and southern Sweden, also known from Algeria, Tunisia and parts of Asia Minor. In the UK it is widespread though very local across southern England and Wales and there are a few scattered records further north to Lancashire and Yorkshire. Adults are present year-round; they are active from April or May and the new-generation appears from July so that they may be seen over a long season extending into the autumn when they enter tussocks and moss to overwinter. Typical habitats are open grassland, downs and heathland, usually in rather dry areas exposed to the sun. Host plants include various Cyperaceae and Juncaceae, in the UK mostly on Black Bog-rush (Schoenus nigricans L.) but more in Europe also recorded from Blue sedge (Carex flacca Schreb.), Field Wood-rush (Luzula campestris L.) and reported from other species of Carex L. and Juncus L. Mating occurs in the spring and females oviposit on the ventral surface of upright leaves, usually a single egg to each leaf, and sealing the oviposition site with a drop of secretion which rapidly dries. Larvae mine down the leaf, producing a long and narrow mine about 1 mm wide and up to 42 mm long which contains a narrow central line of dark frass. Pupation occurs at the base of the mine and adults eclose after a week  or two. Adults may be extracted from moss or tussock samples through the colder months, they tend to climb stems to avoid rises in water level and so do not generally appear among flood refuse, they otherwise spend most of their time among host flower-heads or foliage and so will need to be searched for very carefully.