Stigmella magdalenae

Stigmella magdalenae

Alternative names
Northern Rowan Dot
Northern Rowan Pigmy
Description

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.

Similar Species

The mine can be very similar to those of Stigmella nylandriella, but this has coiled frass

Identification difficulty

Adult Leafmine

Recording advice

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). 

Habitat

Areas where Rowan occurs.

When to see it

The leafmines may be found from late June to August and persist until the leaves fall.

Life History

Larva mines the leaves of Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)

UK Status

Mainly found in the north and west of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

VC55 Status

Rarely recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Reference
4.024 BF104

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records