Stigmella plagicolella
This record describes Stigmella plagicolella (species). Recorded family: Nepticulidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 4 to 5 mm. They have dark forewings with bronzy and purple sheens and a neat whitish fascia. Areas where that Blackthorn, the larval foodplant is found. The adults are on the wing from May to June and again in August. The larvae feed on Prunus, mainly Blackthorn creating a roundish blotch which begins as a narrow gallery. These can be found in July and again in September and October. A fairly common species throughout England, Wales and Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/S.plagicolella.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/monotrysia/nepticuloidea/nepticulidae/stigmella/stigmella-plagicolella/
Wikipedia reference for Stigmella plagicolella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigmella plagicolella.
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
Areas where that Blackthorn, the larval foodplant is found.
Seasonal Activity
The adults are on the wing from May to June and again in August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Prunus, mainly Blackthorn creating a roundish blotch which begins as a narrow gallery. These can be found in July and again in September and October.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A fairly common species throughout England, Wales and Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Stigmella plagicolella. 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 plagicolella (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Stigmella plagicolella
What is Stigmella plagicolella?
Stigmella plagicolella is a species in the family Nepticulidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Stigmella plagicolella found?
Habitat: Areas where that Blackthorn, the larval foodplant is found.
When is Stigmella plagicolella active?
Stigmella plagicolella: seasonal activity - The adults are on the wing from May to June and again in August..
What is the life cycle of a Stigmella plagicolella?
The larvae feed on Prunus, mainly Blackthorn creating a roundish blotch which begins as a narrow gallery. These can be found in July and again in September and October.