Stigmella sorbi explained

Stigmella sorbi is a moth of the family Nepticulidae, described by Henry Tibbats Stainton in 1861. It is found in most of Europe, east to the eastern part of the Palearctic realm.

Description

The wingspan is 6–7 mm. The thick erect hairs on the head vertex are ochreous-yellowish to fuscous. The collar is pale grey. Antennal eyecaps are whitish. The front wings are bronze-fuscous with a broad somewhat shining whitish fascia beyond middle; apical area beyond this is rather dark purplish-fuscous. Hindwings are light grey.^[1] Adults are on wing in May.^[2]

OvumLaid on the underside of a leaflet, often close to the midrib.^[3]

LarvaThe larvae feed on Amelanchier, Himalyan cotoneaster (Cotoneaster simonsii), apple (Malus domestica), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and Swedish whitebeam (Sorbus intermedia), mining the leaves of their host plant.^{[3] [4]}

PupaIn a brown cocoon spun on detritus.^{[3] [5]}

Distribution

Found in Asia and most of Europe (except Iceland, Portugal, Belgium, and the western part of the Balkan Peninsula)

Etymology

Stigmella sorbi was described by the English entomologist, Henry Tibbats Stainton in 1861 from a type specimen found in Scarborough, Yorkshire. The genus Stigmella – ″stigma″, refers to the conspicuous (or occasionally metallic) small dot or a brand fascia on the forewing of many of the Stigmella species, or possibly the small size of the moths. The species name sorbi – refers to rowan Sorbus aucuparia, one of the larval foodplants.^[6]

External links

• Swedish moths
• Stigmella sorbi images at Consortium for the Barcode of Life
• lepiforum.de

Notes and References

1. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London
2. Web site: Kimber . Ian . 4.041 BF66 Stigmella sorbi (Stainton, 1861) . UKmoths . 26 July 2023.
3. Book: Emmet . A M . Heath . John . John Heath (entomologist) . Nepticulidae. In The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland . 1983 . . Colchester . 0-946589-15-1 . 226.
4. Web site: Ellis . W N . Stigmella sorbi (Stainton, 1861) barred rowan pigmy . Plant Parasites of Europe . 26 July 2023.
5. Book: Emmet . A M . A Field Guide to the smaller British Lepidoptera . 1988 . British Entomological & Natural History Society . London . 0-9502891-6-7 . 24 . Second.
6. Book: Emmet . A Maitland . A. Maitland Emmet . The Scientific Names of the British Lepidoptera. Their history and meaning . 1991 . . Colchester . 0-946589-35-6 . 45 & 47.