Stigmella plagicolella

Click here to support NatureSpot by making a donation - small or large - your gift is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Alternative names

Blue-shot Dot
Scrubland Pigmy

Description

Wingspan 4 to 5 mm. They have dark forewings with bronzy and purple sheens and a neat whitish fascia.

Identification difficulty

Adult Leafmine

Habitat

Areas where that Blackthorn, the larval foodplant is found.

When to see it

The adults are on the wing from May to June and again in August.

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.

UK Status

A fairly common species throughout England, Wales and Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

VC55 Status

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Reference

4.042 BF67

Further Information

http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/S.plagicolella.htm

https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/monotrysia/nepticuloidea/nepticulidae/stigmella/stigmella-plagicolella/

Graham Calow
Leicester Road, Sapcote
04 October 2017
leafmine on Blackthorn
Graham Calow
Fosse Meadows, Sharnford
18 October 2018
leafmines on Blackthorn
Graham Calow
Near Fallow Close, Broughton Astley
13 October 2017
leafmine on Blackthorn
Peter Smith
Pioneer Park, Leicester
22 August 2018