Stigmella alnetella (Stainton, 1856)

silver-barred alder pigmy

mine

Oviposition at the leaf lower surface. Then a full depth slender, corridor, often following a vein or the leaf margin for some distance. Frass in a continuous central line that nowhere is wider than one third of the corridor width. Frass never coiled. Usually only one mine in a leaf. Pupation outside the mine.

host plants

Betulaceae, almost monophagous

Alnus glutinosa, cordata, incana, viridis.

Rarely also on Betula (Johansson ao, 1990a).

phenology

Two generations per year (Johansson ao, 1990a).

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).

NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2009).

LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

distribution within Europe

Entire Europe, except Ireland and the Balkan Peninsula (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

larva

Yellow, head light brown; abdominal segment 1 ventrally spinulose (Gustafsson & van Nieukerken, 1990a). Prosternum without a spot (which is present in St. glutinosae).

synonyms

Nepticula alnetella.

notes

The variability in the mines of St. alnetella and St. glutinosae is considerable, and a definite identification of a single mined leaf is impossible, unless a larva is available.

references

Ahr (1966a), Bengtsson (2008a), Borkowski (1969a), Braggion (2013a), Buhr (1935a), Buszko & Beshkov (2004a), Diškus & Stonis (2012a), Drăghia (1968a, 1972a), Emmet (1983a), Gustafsson (1985a), Gustafsson & van Nieukerken (1990a), Haase (1942a), Hartig (1939a), Hering (1957a), Huber (1969a), Johansson ao (1990a), Klimesch (1936a, 1950c), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchklein & de Vos (1999a), A & A Laštuvka (1997a, 2005a, 2014), Lhomme (1934b), Matošević, Pernek, Dubravac & Barić (2009a), Navickaitė, Diškus & Stonis (2011a, 2014a), van Nieukerken (1986a, 2021a), van Nieukerken, Gielis, Huisman ao (1993a), van Nieukerken, A & Z Laštuvka (2004a, 2006a), Nowakowski (1954a), Plóciennik, Pawlikiewicz & Jaworski (2011a), Robbins (1991a), Schütze (1931a), Skala (1939a), Sønderup (1949a), Steeman & Sierens (2020a), Steuer (1995a), Szőcs (1977a, 1978a), Zoerner (1969a, 1970a).