Stigmella basiguttella

Diagnostic description: 

Diagnosis. One of the most variable species of the group, but always with dark head. The amount of pale patches on the forewings varies, but usually the basal spot is present and frequently the middle part of the wing is slightly paler to almost white. Similar species are, in the males, S. trojana and bicuspidata, which have narrow spatulate androconials along hindwing costa, S. macrolepidella, which usually is much paler, including a pale abdomen and S. samiatella, which has uniform forewings and brown hindwings. Females may in addition resemble those of S. atricapitella and S. zangherii.
Male genitalia characterized by the extremely long and straight aedeagus with some large cornuti at phallotrema, and absence of manica. Female genitalia by the characteristic arrangement of spines in the accessory sac.

Associations: 

Hostplants. Castanea sativa, Quercus castaneifolia (Laštuvka & Huemer 2002), Q. cerris, Q. frainetto (Buhr 1940), Q. ithaburensis subsp. macrolepis (Klimesch 1978), Q. petraea, Q. pubescens, Q. pyrenaica (Mendes 1913), Q. robur, Q. rubra. The record on Q. castaneifolia is based on light-collected specimens in forests with only this oak present. Leafmine. Very characteristic gallery, completely filled with neatly contorted green frass, becoming brown after the larva has left the mine. Egg invariably on upperside of leaf, usually close to or on a vein. Larva bright green, described in detail by Gustafsson & Van Nieukerken (1990). Cocoon:  dark  red to red-brown. This is the only widespread species that can always be recognised by mines and larvae, thus also vacated mines give reliable records.

Distribution: 

The most widespread species in the group, almost following the distribution of Quercus: throughout Europe and Southwest Asia up to northern Iran (Laštuvka & Huemer 2002, and one specimen cited below). Denmark SZ and B;  in Sweden in most provinces up to  north to Vstm.;  Finland A1 and Ab; not reported from Norway. - Widely  distributed in eastern and C. Europe from Poland, Ukraine and Romania to  the Netherlands and SE. England; in Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal. No positive records yet from Albania, Belarus, Bosnia, Ireland or Latvia. New records from Azerbaijan, Georgia and Tunisia. Highest altitude: 1900m (Sierra Nevada).

Life cycle: 

Life-history. Bivoltine, or possibly with more generations in Mediterranean. Larvae found from June to November, adults May-early September.


Citation: 

This taxonomic description is based on Van Nieukerken (2003).

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith