Photo © Billy Dykes

Stephensia brunnichella

Checklist Number
38.003 [B&F: 0592]

Verification
Record will normally be accepted but photo evidence may be required - check with CMR if not sure of identity

Classification

Family:Elachistidae
Subfamily:Elachistinae
Genus:Stephensia
Species:brunnichella
Authority:(Linnaeus, 1767)

Nationally scarce (Nb) in deciduous woodland and woodland margins, on chalky soils, in England from the Wash-Mersey line southwards and also in the north; in Wales from Glamorgan (MBGBI Vol 3). In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight this species occurs along the borders of woods on calcareous downland, and has been found in several localities in the county, notably at Leckford and Stockbridge Down in the north, and Portsdown NR and Oxenbourne in the south. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight since 1938. Wingspan 8-9 mm. Imago similar to many of the Elachista species, although the white band on the antenna at three-quarters is distinctive. Larva mines leaves of Wild Basil.

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
St. George's Down (SZ58)1938-S WakelyMine

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Farley Mount (SU42)19/05/193712W FassnidgeAdult
Oxenbourne Down (SU71)13/05/1972oneGeorge R ElseAdult
Oxenbourne Down (SU71)24/06/1972oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Oxenbourne Down (SU71)25/05/1974oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Oxenbourne Down (SU71)01/06/1974twoRichard J DicksonAdult
Oxenbourne Down (SU71)10/08/1974oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Leckford Estate (SU33)30/07/1977oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Soberton (SU61)30/03/1978fourJohn R LangmaidLarval
Droxford (SU61)1980-John R LangmaidLarval
Sparsholt (SU43)21/07/1982oneD H SterlingAdult
Sparsholt (SU43)21/09/1982oneD H SterlingAdult
Broughton Down (SU23)1986-D H Sterling-
Broughton Down (SU23)26/05/1986oneJ R Langmaid, D H SterlingAdult
Portsdown (SU60)09/11/1986-J R Langmaid, R J HeckfordMine
West Wood, Sparsholt (SU42)11/06/1988oneJ R Langmaid, D H SterlingAdult
Farley Mount (SU42)11/06/1988oneD H SterlingAdult
Chandlers Ford (SU42)07/07/1992twoBarry GoaterAdult
Portsdown (SU60)31/05/2001twoRichard J DicksonAdult
Portchester Common SSSI (SU60)29/05/2009oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Broughton Down (SU23)11/08/2010oneMike BakerAdult
Old Winchester Hill (SU62)19/05/2014fourRichard J DicksonAdult
Hen Wood, East Meon (SU62)21/05/2014oneJ R Langmaid, M R, J E YoungAdult
Broughton Down (SU23)21/05/2015oneMike BakerAdult
Old Winchester Hill (SU62)25/05/201510Richard J DicksonAdult
Old Winchester Hill (SU62)22/06/2015oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Old Winchester Hill (SU62)17/08/2015oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Old Winchester Hill (SU62)23/05/2016fourKeith WheelerAdult
Broughton (SU23)31/07/2016oneGraeme DavisAdult
Old Winchester Hill (SU62)22/05/2017oneKeith WheelerAdult
Broughton Down (SU23)12/06/2017fiveMike BakerAdult
Queen Elizabeth Country Park (SU71)22/06/2017oneJ R Langmaid, S M PalmerAdult
Broughton Down (SU23)30/05/2019oneMike BakerAdult
Old Winchester Hill (SU62)03/06/2019twoRichard J DicksonAdult
Old Winchester Hill NNR (SU62)29/07/2023twoWill LangdonAdult
Portsdown (SU60)20/07/2024threeDan HoughtonMine

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
West Down, Chilbolton (SU33)03/08/1982oneJ R Langmaid, D H SterlingAdult
West Down, Chilbolton (SU33)29/07/1984twoJ R Langmaid, D H SterlingAdult
Leckford Estate (SU33)15/06/1986-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingMine
Leckford Estate (SU33)25/04/1987-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingLarval
Leckford Estate (SU33)13/10/1990-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingMine (vacated)
Leckford Estate (SU33)22/06/1992oneJ R Langmaid, D H SterlingAdult
Ashford Hangers LNR (SU72)21/05/1993oneJ R Langmaid, P R DurnellAdult
Leckford Estate (SU33)09/05/2002oneJ R Langmaid, B ElliottLarval
Leckford Estate (SU33)16/05/2002twoJ R Langmaid, B ElliottLarval
Stockbridge Down (SU33)05/05/2007oneJ R Langmaid, M R, J E YoungAdult
Stockbridge Down (SU33)05/05/2007oneJ R Langmaid, M R, J E YoungAdult
Leckford Estate (SU33)20/10/2011oneJ R Langmaid, M R Young, B ElliottMine (vacated)
Micheldever Station (SU54)13/06/2012-D J GibbsAdult