Photo © Mike Wall

Stigmella betulicola

Checklist Number
04.005 [B&F: 0110]

Verification
Record requires retention of specimen until confirmed, and may require dissection. Consult with CMR if unsure

Classification

Family:Nepticulidae
Subfamily:Nepticulinae
Genus:Stigmella
Species:betulicola
Authority:(Stainton, 1856)

Local on well-wooded heathland throughout much of the British Isles. In Hampshire restricted mainly to Botley Wood, Havant Thicket and the north-eastern heaths, with scattered records elsewhere. One record from the Isle of Wight, in 2017. Wingspan 3.4-4.6 mm. The adult requires dissection for certain identification; the larva mines leaves of Silver and Downy Birch, over-wintering as a pupa.
In the Scottish Highlands, f. nanivora, considered by some authorities to be a separate species, mines Dwarf Birch.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

VC10 Isle of Wight

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Mottistone Forest (SZ48)16/09/2017oneDave CookeMine
Mottistone Forest (SZ48)14/10/2017eightDave CookeMine

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Havant Thicket (SU71)06/10/1983-John R LangmaidMine
Emer Bog NR (SU32)04/11/1984-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingMine (vacated)
Botley Wood (SU50)10/11/1984-J R Langmaid, D H Sterling, R P Knill-JonesMine (vacated)
West Walk, Wickham (SU61)13/07/1990oneJ R Langmaid, R J DicksonAdult
Botley Wood (SU51)24/09/1990-Richard J DicksonMine
Botley Wood (SU51)01/10/1990-Richard J DicksonMine
The Moors NR, Bishop's Waltham (SU51)07/10/1990twoJ R Langmaid, D H SterlingMine
Botley Wood (SU50)08/10/1990-Richard J DicksonMine
Havant Thicket (SU71)04/10/1991-John R LangmaidMine
Emer Bog NR (SU32)27/10/1991-J R Langmaid, D J L AgassizMine
Emer Bog NR (SU42)10/10/1992-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingMine
Emer Bog NR (SU32)26/10/1993-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingMine
Roydon Woods HIWWT NR, NF (SU30)03/10/1998-Richard J DicksonMine
Roydon Woods HIWWT NR, NF (SZ39)03/10/1998-David G GreenLarval
Roydon Woods HIWWT NR, NF (SU30)03/10/1998-J R Langmaid, R J Dickson, D G Green, T Norriss, P BuddMine
Wickham Common (SU51)07/10/1998-Richard J DicksonMine
Roydon Woods NR (SU30)1999-Phil Budd-
Roydon Woods HIWWT NR, NF (SU30)07/10/1999-Phil BuddLarval
Crows Nest Bottom (SU21)01/11/1999oneDavid G GreenLarval
Wickham Common (SU51)14/10/2003-J R Langmaid, R J DicksonMine
Wickham Common (SU51)14/10/200310Richard J DicksonMine
Botley Wood (SU51)11/05/2005oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Browndown (SZ59)09/10/2005-J R Langmaid, B Elliott, T Norriss et al Mine
Crows Nest Bottom (SU21)27/09/2006-David G GreenLarval
Botley Wood (SU50)07/08/2007oneKeith WheelerAdult
Havant Thicket (SU71)02/10/2007-J R Langmaid, B ElliottMine
Bell's Copse, Havant Thicket (SU71)02/10/2007-J R Langmaid, B ElliottMine
Wickham Common (SU51)31/10/2007-John R LangmaidMine
Botley Wood (SU50)27/07/2009oneKeith WheelerAdult
South Gorley (SU11)02/08/2014oneScott HackettMine
Emer Bog NR (SU32)17/10/2014-Brian ElliottMine
Botley Wood (SU50)07/09/2015twoRichard J DicksonMine (vacated)
Holmesley, NF (SU20)10/07/2017-J R Langmaid, B Elliott, B GoaterMine
Botley Wood (SU50)19/11/2021eightDan HoughtonMine (vacated)
Botley Wood (SU51)20/11/2021twoDavid WallaceMine (vacated)
Botley Wood (SU51)18/09/2022fourDan HoughtonMine (vacated)
Botley Wood (SU50)08/10/2022nineDan HoughtonMine
Botley Wood (SU50)09/10/2022oneDan HoughtonMine

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Micheldever (SU54)1971-D W H Ffennell-
The Warren, Hawkley (SU72)18/10/1993-J R Langmaid, P R DurnellMine
Yateley Common (SU85)23/09/1994-J R Langmaid, A M DavisMine
Eelmoor Marsh SSSI (SU85)24/08/1997oneDavid G GreenLarval
Fleet Pond (SU85)07/10/1997oneDavid G GreenLarval
Yateley Heath (SU85)26/10/2002-Rob EdmundsLarval
Eelmoor Marsh SSSI (SU85)23/09/2005-David G GreenLarval
Pamber Forest (SU66)11/10/2009-J R Langmaid, M J Wall, R T Edmunds, B Elliott, T J NorrissMine
Micheldever Wood (SU53)28/10/2011-David G GreenLarval
Pamber Forest (SU66)17/10/2020-Graham DennisMine
Inhams Copse, Pamber (SU66)31/07/2024oneGraham DennisAdult

VC22 West Berkshire (Hants county)

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Mortimer West End (SU66)11/08/2003oneGraham DennisAdult