Stigmella sakhalinella
This record describes Stigmella sakhalinella (species). Recorded family: Nepticulidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 4 to 4.6 mm. The adult moths are similar to several other species in the group, and it may not be possible to identify adult to species level even by gen det. The larvae mine various Birch species. The gallery is almost filled with coiled frass, leaving an intermittent transparent zone at either side. The corridor mostly begins close to the leaf margin, often near the tip of the leaf. The egg is usually on the underside of leaf. Stigmella continuella also has coiled frass Adult: It may not be possible to identify adults to species level, even by gen det. Leafmine: A photograph of the mine which must be backlit to show the frass pattern. Note the host plant and if possible the egg position. Where Birch, the larval host species, is present. Adults are on wing in May and again from July to August. Pupation takes place outside of the mine. 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
Where Birch, the larval host species, is present.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are on wing in May and again from July to August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Pupation takes place outside of the mine.
Additional species information
Recorded status
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 sakhalinella. 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 sakhalinella (4)
Frequently Asked Questions About Stigmella sakhalinella
What is Stigmella sakhalinella?
Stigmella sakhalinella is a species in the family Nepticulidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Stigmella sakhalinella found?
Habitat: Where Birch, the larval host species, is present.
When is Stigmella sakhalinella active?
Stigmella sakhalinella: seasonal activity - Adults are on wing in May and again from July to August..
What is the life cycle of a Stigmella sakhalinella?
Pupation takes place outside of the mine.