Photo © Andy Mitchell

Stigmella aceris

Checklist Number
04.012 [B&F: 0102]

Verification
Record requires retention of specimen until confirmed, and may require dissection. Consult with CMR if unsure

Classification

Family:Nepticulidae
Subfamily:Nepticulinae
Genus:Stigmella
Species:aceris
Authority:(Frey, 1857)

Local in woodland, gardens and parkland from Kent to Hampshire. First recorded in our area from Teg Down, Winchester, in 1986, it was not found again until 2004 in the Fleet area, where the centre of population in north Hampshire still lies. The last decade has seen an increase in records and it is now frequently recorded around the Southampton area; first recorded from the Isle of Wight in 2020, where further expansion is likely. Wingspan 3.7-4.7 mm. Best recorded in the larval stage, when mines can be found in the leaves of Field Maple, sometimes Norway Maple, over-wintering as a pupa. The mines are described in the following link:
leafmines.co.uk
.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)