Stigmella glutinosae (Stainton, 1858)
white-barred alder pigmy
on Alnus
Alnus glutinosae, Belgium, prov. Hainaut, Chimay, Etang de Virelles, 2.ix.2018 © Stéphane Claerebout
detail
Despite the fact that this type of mines is considered full depth, the mine is virtually invisible at the underside of the leaf.
Only in backlight is becomes apparent that in this mime the frass is coiled.

Alnus glutinosa, Ackerdijkse Plassen

Alnus glutinosa, Belgium, Viroinval
mine
Oviposition at the leaf underside, always against a vein. Then a full depth, fairly slender corridor, often several in a leaf. Frass line very variable, sometimes coiled, mostly more than on third of the width of the corridor. Pupation outside the mine.
host plants
Betulaceae, monophagous
Alnus glutinosa, cordata, incana, orientalis, subcordata, viridis.
phenology
There are 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 the Balkan peninsula and possibly Spain (Fauna Europaea, 2009); Cyprus (Barton, 2015a).
larva
Yellow, with a grey-brown patch on the prosternum (Johansson ao, 1990a). The larva mines venter-upwards (Emmet, 1983a). Abdominal segment 1 ventrally not spinulose (Johansson ea, 1990a).
synonyms
Nepticula glutinosae; Stigmella rubescens (Heinemann, 1871).
notes
It is not well possible to definitely discriminate a single mine from the one of Stigmella alnetella, unless a larva is available.
Erik van Nieukerken (pers. comm.) found the mine depicted below on Birch. The mine resembles St. luteella, but lacks the characteristic beginning. A study of the larval DNA showed that glutinosae was involved. Obviously, it now has to be established how frequently the species uses Birch as as host plant.
Betula pendula, France, Villeneuve-sur-Cher, 30.7.2009; leg., ©, det. EJ van Nieukerken
references
Ahr (1966a), Barton (2015a), Bengtsson (2008a), Borkowski (1969a), Buhr (1935a), Buszko & Baraniak (1989a), Diškus & Stonis (2012a), Drăghia (1968a), Emmet (1983a), Gustafsson (1985a), Haase (1942a), Hartig (1939a), Hering (1957a), Huber (1969a), Huemer & Erlebach (2003a), Johansson ao (1990a), Klimesch (1936a, 1950c), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Kurz (2016a), A & Z Laštuvka (1997a, 2005a, 2011a), Matošević, Pernek, Dubravac & Barić (2009a), Michalska (1976a), Navickaitė, Diškus & Stonis (2011a, 2014a), van Nieukerken (1986a), van Nieukerken, A & Z Laštuvka (2004a, 2006a), van Nieukerken, Zolotuhin & Mistchenko (2004a), Nowakowski (1954), Robbins (1991a), Schütze (1931a), Skala (1939a, 1951a), Skala & Zavřel (1945a), Sønderup (1949a), Steuer (1995a), Szőcs (1977a, 1978a, 1981a), Zoerner (1969a, 1970a).