Stigmella zelleriella

Description

Stigmella zelleriella is a moth of the Nepticulidae family. It is found from Fennoscandia and northern Russia to the Alps and from Ireland to central Russia. Some authors consider the form lappovimella to be a distinct species. It occurs in northern Fennoscandia. The wingspan is 4.5–6.2 millimetres (0.18–0.24 in). Adults are on wing from April to September. The larvae feed on Salix lapponum, Salix repens and Salix repens arenaria. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine consists of a short gallery, often partly following the leaf margin, almost completely stuffed with frass. The corridor gradually widens into a blotch that can occupy up to half of a leaf. Pupation takes place outside of the mine. The name honours the German microlepidopterist Philipp Christoph Zeller.