Stigmella atricapitella

Description

Stigmella atricapitella is a moth of the Nepticulidae family. It is found from Scandinavia to Ireland, the Iberian Peninsula, Sicily, Greece and Ukraine. It is also present in the Near East. It also occurs on Madeira, where it is most likely an introduced species. The wingspan is 4.5-5.7 mm. The head is black, ferruginous to orange, or sometimes mixed, collar often whitish. Antennal eyecaps white. Forewings rather shining bronze, apex suffused with purple. Hindwings grey. Adults are on wing from May to June and again from July to August. There are two generations per year. The larvae feed on Quercus cerris, Quercus petraea, Quercus pubescens, Quercus pyrenaica and Quercus robur. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine consists of a short and broad corridor.