Stigmella variella

Description

Stigmella variella is a moth of the Nepticulidae family. It is found in the United States in California and Arizona. The wingspan is 5.5-7.5 mm. There are two to three generations per year in California. Completed mines can be found from July to early September and February to April. The larvae feed on Quercus agrifolia, Quercus wislizeni and Quercus kelloggii. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine is serpentine and located in the upper epidermis and mesophyll. It becomes contorted and almost completely filled with frass granules, but no terminal blotch is formed.