Species Account

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Distribution

 
 

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Common

Local Status: Scarce and local resident.

Local Record: Grade 4 adult, 2 leaf-mine   See here for explanation

Flight time:

Forewing: 2-3mm.

Foodplant: Oak.

Regional breakdown:

 VC62VC63VC64
Year first recorded198119832012
Year last recorded201320122013
Number of records2422
Number of individuals171
Unique positions2342
Unique locations2342
Adult records100
Immature records1422

For the county, we have a total of 46 records from 38 sites. First recorded in 1981.
 

Photos

04.060 Stigmella ruficapitella 02 mine on pedunculate oak
© Andy Nunn
04.060 Stigmella ruficapitella 01 male
© Charlie Streets, 1 Apr 2010

Species Account

Most records are of leaf-mines.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Old records are unacceptable (see previous species). Probably widespread, there are confirmed records from vice-counties 62 and 63.

2013 (CHF): Mines of the oak-feeding Stigmella species (with the exception of basiguttella are not safely separated without breeding the adults. Again some of the dots on the map are unconfirmed but this species may be commoner in the county than the dots on the map suggest. The egg is usually laid on the upperside of the leaf not far from the leaf margin. The mine is an initially narrow corridor with a thin frass line, soon widening into a fairly long, broad corridor with a largely broad frass line; locally the frass may be coiled. Often the first part of the mine follows the leaf margin, entering the centre of the leaf after a hairpin turn.

Argus 69, 2013:
VC64. Meanwood, Leeds, mine on oak 15.11.2012 em. 26.3.2013. NEW VICE-COUNTY RECORD.
 

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