Stigmella rhamnicola - Hodges#0074
Stigmella rhamnicola
This record describes Stigmella rhamnicola (species). Recorded family: Nepticulidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Per Erik van Nieukerken on the image posted here This is Stigmella rhamnicola, easily recognised by the differently coloured fasciae and white thorax. The collar consists of lamellar scales, which shows it is a Stigmella.
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.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae mine the leaves of buckthorn, including Rhamnus cathartica and Rhamnus lanceolata .
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named for the host plant genus Rhamnus .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Stigmella rhamnicola. 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 rhamnicola - Hodges#0074 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Stigmella rhamnicola - Hodges#0074
What is Stigmella rhamnicola - Hodges#0074?
Stigmella rhamnicola - Hodges#0074 (Stigmella rhamnicola) is a species in the family Nepticulidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Stigmella rhamnicola - Hodges#0074?
Wingspan 4.5-5.5 mm.
How do you identify Stigmella rhamnicola - Hodges#0074?
Per Erik van Nieukerken on the image posted here This is Stigmella rhamnicola, easily recognised by the differently coloured fasciae and white thorax. The collar consists of lamellar scales, which shows it is a Stigmella.
What does Stigmella rhamnicola - Hodges#0074 eat?
The diet of the Stigmella rhamnicola - Hodges#0074 includes Larvae mine the leaves of buckthorn, including Rhamnus cathartica and Rhamnus lanceolata ..