Stigmella altella - Hodges#0101
Stigmella altella
This record describes Stigmella altella (species). Recorded family: Nepticulidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult and larval mine - see Braun in Print References. Larva - yellow with a row of dark brown dashes along the mid-ventral line. The larva makes a contorted linear mine on the underside of an oak leaf.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Nepticuloidea
- Family
- Nepticulidae
- Genus
- Stigmella
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Recorded from Maine and Ohio.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Quercus imbricaria, Q. palustris .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Stigmella altella. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stigmella altella - Hodges#0101
What is Stigmella altella - Hodges#0101?
Stigmella altella - Hodges#0101 (Stigmella altella) is a species in the family Nepticulidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Stigmella altella - Hodges#0101?
Wingspan 6.5-7.0 mm.
How do you identify Stigmella altella - Hodges#0101?
Adult and larval mine - see Braun in Print References. Larva - yellow with a row of dark brown dashes along the mid-ventral line.
Where is Stigmella altella - Hodges#0101 found?
Range: Recorded from Maine and Ohio.
What does Stigmella altella - Hodges#0101 eat?
The diet of the Stigmella altella - Hodges#0101 includes Quercus imbricaria, Q. palustris ..