38.003 BF592 – Basil Blotch-miner – Stephensia brunnichella – (Linnaeus, 1767)
Adult Micro: CAT 3 – Very rare or scarce species (includes very scarce adventives/immigrants) – 
Leaf-miner: CAT L – The leaf or a Photo required – Larval Case: C1 – Distinctive Species –
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Leaf-miner: CAT L – The leaf or a Photo required – Larval Case: C1 – Distinctive Species – – click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines 
– Uncertain/Unknown – Insufficient Data 
– Leaf-miner
** Photograph required
**
– difficult to identify – detailed examination required, often a Gen Det and/or specimen and quality photographs are required. ID pointers: There are several features which help to distinguish this moth from other Elachista species.The antennae has a white band at three quarters up its length.The forewing has an alternating pattern of rich black-browns and bright silvery-white to “brassy” hues. Upon each forewing is a pale metallic spot at the tip of the leading edge, and a silvery triangular marking near the bottom corner. Trimming the bottom edge of the forewings is a fringe of black-brown cilia. The hind-wings are dark grey finely and sparingly sprinkled, with tiny glistening scales.
Distribution: (Last record: 1965 at Clay Cross ) – Nationally Scarce B –
Uncertain – Harrison and Sterling and DaNES historic list 2 records – Ticknall 7/7/1928 & Clay Cross 11/6/1965 – no modern day records
General Comment: None Mine Period Additional: Sept=May & July-August – A narrow gallery mine leading to a full blotch that may cover the whole leaf.
Mine ID Difficulty:
– Mine cannot be identified without breeding through and then adult may need to be examined by Gen Det Prep. Mine Type/s: Not Recorded
Mine Feeding Method/s: Not Recorded
Mine Comment: None.
*** Last updated on 5 April 2026 by TD ***
Last Recorded Year: 1965
Last Recorded By – Harrison and Sterling and DaNES Historic
Last Recorded General Area – Clay Cross
Selected Images:
Image Gallery
No gallery images found for this moth.
Temporal Distribution Chart
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
This chart summarises all available historical occurrence records collated by ISO week of the year. It reflects recorder effort and sampling distribution as well as true biological activity, and should be interpreted as an indicative pattern of seasonal occurrence rather than a statistically controlled abundance or phenology model.
Distribution Map for Stephensia brunnichella
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Bedrock Geology ** indirectly affects moth distribution by influencing the type of habitat and food plants available in an area. In turn, this may affect the types of moths that can thrive, or where they can most likely be found.
NBN Atlas UK Distribution for – Stephensia brunnichella
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Note – the NBN Atlas datasets are listed in the map below and vary in their currency (uptodateness) – however,
the map does give a general indication of the moth's distribution across the UK.
Monthly Records By Year:
Stephensia brunnichella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Stephensia brunnichella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Stephensia brunnichella
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
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Recordings By Year: Stephensia brunnichella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Stephensia brunnichella
AGR: 0% | Total % Change: 0%
Stephensia brunnichella
Insufficient records/data for an AGR analysis
Years Analysed: 2000 – 2026
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Stephensia brunnichella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Stephensia brunnichella
Stephensia brunnichella
Flight Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's flight periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen in flight, from site observation records received between 2020-2026.
Mine Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Stephensia brunnichella
Stephensia brunnichella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Mine Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's mine periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen mining, from site observation records received between 2020-2026.
Records Behind the Map and Charts - Stephensia brunnichella – 0 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
No records found for Stephensia brunnichella.