Stigmella macrocarpae - Hodges#0088
Stigmella macrocarpae
This record describes Stigmella macrocarpae (species). Recorded family: Nepticulidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
This species has been confused with Stigmella nigriverticella in the past. According to Erik van Nieukerken, S. macrocarpae has a wider pale fascia in the middle of the wing; for example: For comparison, this specimen has been confirmed as S. nigriverticella :
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
Records from Indiana and southern Ontario, southeast to Maryland, south to South Carolina and Georgia. Type locality: Orillia , Ontario (12 August 1965).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae leaf mine in bur oak ( Quercus macrocarpa ) (Freeman, 1967).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific name is taken from the host plant Quercus macrocarpa .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Stigmella macrocarpae. 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 macrocarpae - Hodges#0088 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Steve Nanz; Additional contributions by ceiseman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Stigmella macrocarpae - Hodges#0088
What is Stigmella macrocarpae - Hodges#0088?
Stigmella macrocarpae - Hodges#0088 (Stigmella macrocarpae) is a species in the family Nepticulidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Stigmella macrocarpae - Hodges#0088?
Wingspan 4 mm (Freeman, 1967).
How do you identify Stigmella macrocarpae - Hodges#0088?
This species has been confused with Stigmella nigriverticella in the past. According to Erik van Nieukerken, S. macrocarpae has a wider pale fascia in the middle of the wing; for example: For comparison, this specimen has been confirmed as S. nigriverticella :
Where is Stigmella macrocarpae - Hodges#0088 found?
Range: Records from Indiana and southern Ontario, southeast to Maryland, south to South Carolina and Georgia. Type locality: Orillia , Ontario (12 August 1965).
What does Stigmella macrocarpae - Hodges#0088 eat?
The diet of the Stigmella macrocarpae - Hodges#0088 includes Larvae leaf mine in bur oak ( Quercus macrocarpa ) (Freeman, 1967)..