Stigmella malella (Stainton, 1854)

apple pigmy

on Malus

Malus domestica, Hungary, Mosonmagyaróvár, 3.ix.2020 © László Érsek

occupied mine

mine lighted from behind

the yellow larva

Malus domestica, Luxemburg, Kautenbach, 11.ix.2002

mine

Egg at the underside of the leaf, near a vein. The mine is quite variable. It is a rather strongly tortuous corridor, sometime widening only a little, sometimes strongly, at times ending in a secondary blotch. Frass black or brown, in a narrow central line.

host plants

woody Rosaceae, oligophagous

Malus astracanica, baccata, domestica, floribunda, fusca, ringo, sylvestris.

References to Prunus are very unlikely (van Nieukerken in litt., 2023)

phenology

Larvae in June – July and September – October (Emmet, 1983a).

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).

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

LUX recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

distribution within Europe

Probably all Europe (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

larva

Pale yellow. The larve is described by Briolini (1961a) and Gustafsson & van Nieukerken (1990a).

synonyms

Nepticula angustella Heinemann & Wocke, 1876.

notes

In the past mass occurrence on apple orchards have caused serious problems (Eveleens & Evenhuis, 1968a; Evenhuis, 1965a; van Frankenhuizen, 1965a; van Frankenhuyzen & Freriks, 1972a; Houtman, 1952a).

references

Anisimovas, Diškus & Stonis (2006a), Askew, Blasco-Zumeta & Pujade-Villar (2001a), Bengtsson (2008a), Borkowski (1969a), Briolini (1961a), Buhr (1935b, 1964a), Buszko & Baraniak (1989a), Černý (2001a), Chowaniec & Larysz (2024a), Diškus & Stonis (2012a), Drăghia (1970a), Drăghia & Herțug (1985a), Emmet (1983a), Eveleens & Evenhuis (1968a), Evenhuis (1965a), van Frankenhuizen (1965a), van Frankenhuyzen & Freriks (1972a), van Frankenhuyzen & Houtman (1972a), van Frankenhuyzen Houtman & Kabos (1982a), Gustafsson (1985a), Gustafsson & van Nieukerken (1990a), Haase (1942a), Hartig (1939a), Hering (1957a), Houtman (1952a), Huber (1969a), Huemer (1985a, 1988a), Johansson ao (1990a), Klimesch (1936a, 1950c), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Kurz (2016a), Kurz & Kurz (2007a), Laštuvka & Laštuvka, 1997a), Maček (1999a), Matošević, Pernek, Dubravac & Barić (2009a), Navickaitė, Diškus & Stonis (2014), van Nieukerken (1986a, 2006a), van Nieukerken, Laštuvka & Laštuvka (2004a, 2006a), Lepiforum (2024), van Nieukerken, Zolotuhin & Mistchenko (2004a), Nowakowski (1954a), Parenti & Varalda (2000a), De Prins (1998a), Robbins (1991a), Schütze (1931a), Sefrová (2005a), Skala (1939a, 1951a), Skorb, Diškus & Stonis (0000a), Sønderup (1949a), Stammer (2016a), Starý (1930a), Steuer (1995a), Szőcs (1977a, 1978a, 1981a), Yefremova & Kravchenko (2015a), Zaberga, Legzdina, Otfinowski & Obelevičius (2014a), Zoerner (1969a, 1970a).