Food Plant: Carpinus (Hornbeam - see Emmet, 1977), Corylus (Hazel)

Egg: Underside of leaf

Mine: June - July, September - October

Notes: The early gallery is filled with frass, later leaving clear margins. The most reliable method of identification for this species is the egg position, S.floslactella lays an egg always on underside in a vein axil whereas S.microtheriella lays it often on or near a vein, but not in the axil. The larva is a dull yellow, head pale brown. The larvae of S.microtheriella fit tightly in the mine and feed venter upwards, whereas S floslactella has empty margins next to the larva and it feeds dorsum up. Mine shown on Hazel.

Emmet (1977) recorded S.floslactella feeding on Hornbeam but was unable to distinguish between the mines and larvae of this species and S.carpinella. It is recomended that specimens be reared or barcoded to confirm its identity. S.floslactella is an uncommon miner of Hornbeam in Europe.

National Status: Common

Bradley No: 75

Data: 10.vi.2006 ,Fleet, Hants, VC12

Image:© Rob Edmunds

References:
Emmet AM (1977) - Stigmella carpinella (Heinemann, 1862) (Lep.:Nepticulidae): A Species New to Britain, Entomologist's Record and Journal of Variation 89, p64-66