Stigmella aceris
This record describes Stigmella aceris (species). Recorded family: Nepticulidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 3.7 to 4.7mm. The larva mines the leaves of Field Maple and Norway Maple, making a gallery almost filled with coiled greenish frass; later on the frass darkens. Found in woodland, gardens, hedgerows and parkland in areas where Field Maple is present. The larvae mine the leaves of Field Maple from end of June-early July, then in August-early September. Formerly very rare in Britain (as recently as the 1980s) it is now becoming more frequent and has reached the English Midlands. In Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local but it is probably now common in many areas. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/S.aceris.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/monotrysia/nepticuloidea/nepticulidae/stigmella/stigmella-aceris/
Wikipedia reference for Stigmella aceris: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigmella_aceris.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Nepticuloidea
- Family
- Nepticulidae (Pygmy Eye-capped Moths)
- Genus
- Stigmella
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Found in woodland, gardens, hedgerows and parkland in areas where Field Maple is present.
Seasonal Activity
Bivoltine: May-Jun and again in August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae mine the leaves of Field Maple from end of June-early July, then in August-early September.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Formerly very rare in Britain (as recently as the 1980s) it is now becoming more frequent and has reached the English Midlands. In Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local but it is probably now common in many areas.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Stigmella aceris. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Stigmella aceris (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Stigmella aceris
What is Stigmella aceris?
Stigmella aceris is a species in the family Nepticulidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Stigmella aceris found?
Habitat: Found in woodland, gardens, hedgerows and parkland in areas where Field Maple is present.
When is Stigmella aceris active?
Stigmella aceris: seasonal activity - Bivoltine: May-Jun and again in August..
What is the life cycle of a Stigmella aceris?
The larvae mine the leaves of Field Maple from end of June-early July, then in August-early September.