Stigmella confusella

Alternative names
Pale Birch Dot
Pale Birch Pigmy
Description

Wingspan 5 to 6 mm. The larva mines the leaves of Birch. The leafmine is similar in appearance to that of S. lapponica, but has a black central line of frass throughout, unlike that species. 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.  

Identification difficulty

Adult Leafmine

Recording advice

Adult: It may not be possible to identify adult to species level even by gen det.  

Leafmine: Photographs required including a backlit image to show frass pattern. Please state host plant when adding your record.

Habitat

Wherever Birch is found.

When to see it

The adults are on the wing during May, and the leafmines can be found from June into August.

Life History

This is a single-brooded species.

UK Status

Distributed widely across much of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

VC55 Status

Infrequently recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Reference
4.003 BF117

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Pale Birch Pigmy
Species group:
Moths
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Nepticulidae
Records on NatureSpot:
11
First record:
30/09/2019 (Timms, Sue)
Last record:
01/10/2023 (Graves, Hazel)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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