Stigmella betulicola
Encyclopedia
Stigmella betulicola is a moth
of the Nepticulidae
family. It is found in most of Europe
(except Iceland
, the Iberian Peninsula
and most of the Balkan Peninsula), east to the eastern part of the Palearctic ecozone.
The wingspan
is 3.4-4.6 mm. Adults are on wing in May and again in August. There are two generations per year.
The larvae feed on Betula species, including Betula pubescens, Betula pendula, Betula humilis and Betula nana. They mine the leaves of their host. The mine is short, with frass irregular, linear. There are often several mines in a leaf. The mines are found frequently on seedlings and small plants
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Nepticulidae
Nepticulidae
Nepticulidae is a family of very small moths with a worldwide distribution. They are characterised by eyecaps over the eyes . These pigmy moths or midget moths, as they are commonly known, include the smallest of all living moths, with a wingspan that can be as little as 3 mm...
family. It is found in most of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
(except Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, the Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
and most of the Balkan Peninsula), east to the eastern part of the Palearctic ecozone.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 3.4-4.6 mm. Adults are on wing in May and again in August. There are two generations per year.
The larvae feed on Betula species, including Betula pubescens, Betula pendula, Betula humilis and Betula nana. They mine the leaves of their host. The mine is short, with frass irregular, linear. There are often several mines in a leaf. The mines are found frequently on seedlings and small plants