Stigmella magdalenae
This record describes Stigmella magdalenae (species). Recorded family: Nepticulidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult Stigmella are very difficult to identify and this species is best recorded as a leafmine on Rowan The mine is a long narrow gallery, often contorted, with a thin central line of linear frass. The mine can be very similar to those of Stigmella nylandriella, but this has coiled frass Adult: It may not be possible to identify adult Stigmella even by dissection unless reared from the leafmine. Leafmine: May be identifiable with care, with provide good photographs including a backlit image. Please also state the host species (i.e. usually Rowan). The leafmines may be found from late June to August and persist until the leaves fall. Larva mines the leaves of Rowan ( Sorbus aucuparia ) Mainly found in the north and west of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Nepticulidae
- Genus
- Stigmella
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Areas where Rowan occurs.
Seasonal Activity
The leafmines may be found from late June to August and persist until the leaves fall.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larva mines the leaves of Rowan (
Additional species information
Recorded status
Mainly found in the north and west of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Stigmella magdalenae. 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 magdalenae (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Stigmella magdalenae
What is Stigmella magdalenae?
Stigmella magdalenae is a species in the family Nepticulidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Stigmella magdalenae found?
Habitat: Areas where Rowan occurs.
When is Stigmella magdalenae active?
Stigmella magdalenae: seasonal activity - The leafmines may be found from late June to August and persist until the leaves fall..
What is the life cycle of a Stigmella magdalenae?
Larva mines the leaves of Rowan (