Stigmella multispicata - Hodges#0086.1
Stigmella multispicata
This record describes Stigmella multispicata (species). Recorded family: Nepticulidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The only Stigmella in North America with black frontal tuft, white collar, and single fascia on forewing.
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
Presumed to be native in Russia and China; introduced in Canada (ON, QC) and the USA (IL, IN, IA, MD, MA, MN, NY, OH, TN, WI).
Seasonal Activity
Larvae have been found from mid-June to mid-July and from mid-October to early November; adults in May and from July to early October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae mine leaves of Siberian elm (Ulmaceae: Ulmus pumila ).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Stigmella multispicata. 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 multispicata - Hodges#0086.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Stigmella multispicata - Hodges#0086.1
What is Stigmella multispicata - Hodges#0086.1?
Stigmella multispicata - Hodges#0086.1 (Stigmella multispicata) is a species in the family Nepticulidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Stigmella multispicata - Hodges#0086.1?
Male forewing 1.8–1.9 mm; wingspan 3.7–4.1 mm. Female forewing 1.8–2.2 mm; wingspan 4.0–4.3 mm.
How do you identify Stigmella multispicata - Hodges#0086.1?
The only Stigmella in North America with black frontal tuft, white collar, and single fascia on forewing.
Where is Stigmella multispicata - Hodges#0086.1 found?
Range: Presumed to be native in Russia and China; introduced in Canada (ON, QC) and the USA (IL, IN, IA, MD, MA, MN, NY, OH, TN, WI).
What does Stigmella multispicata - Hodges#0086.1 eat?
The diet of the Stigmella multispicata - Hodges#0086.1 includes Larvae mine leaves of Siberian elm (Ulmaceae: Ulmus pumila )..
When is Stigmella multispicata - Hodges#0086.1 active?
Stigmella multispicata - Hodges#0086.1: seasonal activity - Larvae have been found from mid-June to mid-July and from mid-October to early November; adults in May and from July to early October..