Photo © Rob Edmunds

Stigmella incognitella

Checklist Number
04.053 [B&F: 0078]

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:incognitella
Authority:(Herrich-Schäffer, 1855)

Local in woodland, gardens, orchards and parks throughout much of southern Britain. Recorded very infrequently in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight, although perhaps more common than the records suggest. Wingspan 5-6 mm. Adults of this species and S. perpygmaeella are difficult to distinguish except by dissection of the genitalia; however, S. incognitella tends to be slightly larger, the forewing is darker and more obviously glossed with purple, the cilia are darker at the tips, and the hindwing is slightly darker, especially in the male (MBGBI Vol 1). Larva mines leaves of Apple, over-wintering as a pupa.

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
Yarmouth (SZ38)1926-W FassnidgeLarval
St Helens (SZ68)1959-D W H FfennellMine
Freshwater (SZ38)08/10/2006-J R Langmaid, D T Biggs, T J Norriss, M J WallMine
Middleton (SZ38)02/11/2013oneDave CookeMine (vacated)
Totland Bay (SZ38)08/12/2013twoDave CookeMine (vacated)

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Rowner (SU50)05/10/1976oneRichard J DicksonMine (vacated)
Rowner (SU50)05/10/1977-Richard J DicksonLarval
Wickham Common (SU51)18/07/1998oneRichard J DicksonMine (vacated)
Hayling (SZ69)24/07/2003oneJ R Langmaid, M R YoungMine
Wickham Common (SU51)14/10/2003-J R Langmaid, R J DicksonMine
Wickham Common (SU51)14/10/2003twoRichard J DicksonMine
Portsdown (SU60)24/10/2003-J R Langmaid, B ElliottMine
Linwood (SU10)02/09/2004-J R Langmaid, B & J GoaterMine (vacated)
Marwell (SU52)13/10/2004-David G GreenLarval
Botley Wood (SU50)02/11/2006-J R Langmaid, I R ThirlwellMine (vacated)
Wickham Common (SU51)31/10/2007-John R LangmaidMine
Wickham Common (SU51)31/10/2007-John R LangmaidMine
Eastney (SZ69)12/11/2007-John R LangmaidMine (vacated)
Sinah Common, Hayling (SZ79)27/07/2008oneJ R Langmaid, M R, J E YoungMine (vacated)
Wickham Common (SU51)28/09/2008twoJ R Langmaid, M R YoungMine (vacated)
Wickham Common (SU51)28/09/2008twoJ R Langmaid, M R YoungMine (vacated)
Eastney (SZ69)19/07/2011-J R Langmaid, B ElliottMine (vacated)
Milton Common (SU60)23/07/2011oneJ R Langmaid, I R ThirlwellMine (vacated)
Portsdown (SU60)17/08/2011-J R Langmaid, R J DicksonMine (vacated)
Portsdown (SU60)17/08/2011twoJohn R LangmaidMine (vacated)
Eastney (SZ69)12/07/2012oneJohn R LangmaidMine
Eastney (SZ69)15/10/2013-J R Langmaid, S M PalmerMine
Wickham Common (SU51)08/10/2014oneJ R Langmaid, M R YoungMine (vacated)
Southampton (SU41)31/10/2014-J R Langmaid, B ElliottMine
Eastney (SZ69)23/06/2017sixJ R Langmaid, S M PalmerMine (vacated)
Eastney (SZ69)14/11/2018-John R LangmaidMine
Mansbridge (SU41)24/10/2021threeTony DavisMine (vacated)
Funtley (SU50)11/07/2022fiveTrevor CodlinMine
Stubbington (SU50)29/06/2023-Dan HoughtonMine
Stroud Green Lane, Stubbington (SU50)29/06/2023twoDan HoughtonMine (vacated)
Hill Head (SU50)02/07/2023-Dan HoughtonMine (vacated)
Warsash (SU40)13/08/2023-Dan HoughtonMine (vacated)

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Wildhern (SU35)21/07/1996-David G GreenLarval
South Wonston (SU43)09/07/1998oneP J S SmithAdult
Rotherwick (SU65)11/07/2006-Tony DobsonMine
Greywell (SU75)13/08/2008-Paul BoswellMine
Fleet (SU85)30/08/2008oneRob EdmundsMine
Weston Colley (SU53)07/10/2010-David G GreenLarval
Basingstoke (SU65)31/07/2011oneMike WallMine (vacated)
Pamber Forest (SU66)04/10/2015-Graham DennisMine (vacated)
Pamber Forest (SU66)20/08/2017-Graham DennisMine (vacated)
Sherborne St John (SU65)29/08/2021-Mike WallMine (vacated)
Blackwater (SU85)15/06/2022oneBen DaleMine (vacated)
Shortheath Common, Oakhanger (SU73)06/07/2023-Tony DavisMine (vacated)
Blackwater (SU85)23/09/202310Ben DaleMine

VC22 West Berkshire (Hants county)

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Mortimer West End (SU66)19/07/2010oneGraham DennisAdult