Stigmella continuella       Stigmella splendidissimella
4.045 BF50  –  Nepticulidae –  Nepticulinae – Stigmella aurella – Golden Dot – (Fabricius, 1775) Adult Micro:  CAT 4 – Gen. Det. Required – Gen-Det-Reqd       Leaf-miner:  CAT L – The leaf or a Photo required – reared and possibly dissected       PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Blue –  Generally Common / Widespread        purple – Leaf Miner
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Nepticulidae  >> Nepticulinae
Other Name/s: Golden Pigmy
ID Difficulty:  Red – difficult to identify – detailed examination required, often a Gen Det and/or specimen and quality photographs are required.
Confusion Species: S. splendidissimella
ID pointers: A Leaf-miner – A very common and widespread leaf-miner with dispersed frass in a long gallery. Recognisable as a silvery grey trail seen on Rubus (Bramble) leaves. Mine shown on Rubus (Bramble). Can also be found on Agrimonia and Geum.Adult has a rich orange head and coppery purple forewing with mettalic golden fascia.
Related Link 🔗 Leaf Mine Identication on S.aurella v S.splendidissimella.
Distribution:  National Status – Common – Derbyshire status of adult unknown – Leaf Mines are regularly recorded. Probably the most commonest and widespread of the Nepticulidae group.
Flight Period: May /  July /  September /  –  Three generations in May, July and September Mine Period: January /  February /  March /  October /  November /  December /   – Overwinter – March or April.
Verification Grade Cat A – Stigmella aurella – Mine: Only if the mine is on Bramble (Rubus) and that the heavily dispersed frass is clear and visible throughout the gallery. Or, tenanted larvae in mine found after October.  All other determinations for this species are adult to gen.det.  Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Dave Evans (Leaf Mine)  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 12 October 2025 by TD ***
Wingspan: 6mm
 Food Plant: Bramble (Rubus)
Recorded dates for Common [Blue code Blue-coded] moths are not stored on the website at this current time.
Selected Images:  Dave Evans – April 18th 2021 – Wyver Lane, Belper.

4.045 BF50 - Nepticulidae - Nepticulinae - Stigmella aurella
Stigmella aurella – Golden Pigmy – Dave eVans
Stigmella aurella - 11/12/2024 - Wyver Lane - Dave Evans
Stigmella aurella – 11/12/2024 – Wyver Lane – Dave Evans
4.045 BF50 - Nepticulidae - Nepticulinae - Stigmella aurella
Stigmella aurella - 11/12/2024 - Wyver Lane - Dave Evans

 

Image Gallery

Stigmella aurella - 11th December 2024 - Wyver Lane - Dave Evans Stigmella aurella on Bramble - 30th October 2024 - Wyver Lane - Dave Evans

Distribution Map for Stigmella aurella

Found 140 records
    ↳ 11 from After 2025
    ↳ 56 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 73 from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Mining
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

If the Map Layers function fails, just refresh the page and it should be OK after. Use the +- zoom on the top left, or on a tablet, use two fingers to zoom. Remember, the last layer you ticked is the one which displays the popup information - they sit on top of each other - de-select then re-select, to see the popup values.

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 – Stigmella aurella

⚠️ Please wait for the map to load fully – do not click the link shown.


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.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Stigmella aurella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Stigmella aurella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )


First/Last Recorded Dates: Stigmella aurella
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]

Shading shows moth presence between dates

Click the colour discs below to Select/De-select as Required

Recordings By Year: Stigmella aurella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Stigmella aurella
AGR: 9.11%   |   Total % Change: 710%


CUSUM Analysis: Stigmella aurella
About this chart: CUSUM (Cumulative Sum) charts track long-term trends in moth populations [ filtered by 'Adult' and 'Mine' life stages ] by showing whether each year’s counts are above or below the historical average. Even small shifts build up over time, making trends of growth, stability, or decline easier to see. CUSUM highlights trend-consistency — asking: “Across the years, have moth counts mostly stayed above or below average?”
The data sample has 4 gap year/s here (zero records) between 2000 and 2025. The moth may have been present in those gap years, but no data was available. Too many year-gaps may exaggerate or skew the chart.

Counts for the current year (2025) are pro-rated based on data available up to month 9 (September) to provide a full-year equivalent.

ⓘ Purple line rises = years better than average; falls = years worse than average.
Peak (best year) Trough (worst year) Growth periods Decline periods
Population peaked around 2025, reaching above average levels. The lowest population point occurred near 2013, showing a significant decline.

What the Y-axis "Cumulative Deviation" means: Cumulative Deviation shows the running total of how each year’s moth population count differs from the long-term average. i

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Stigmella aurella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Stigmella aurella
( data includes Adult Stage only )

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 2020-2025.

Mine Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Stigmella aurella
( 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 2020-2025.

Records Behind the Map and Charts - Stigmella aurella – 140 records available

Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
Sunnydale LNRSK33G27/09/202510minevc57_irecords_extract
Serpentine Woods (north),BuxtonSK07L01/09/20251minevc57_irecords_extract
Norton Lees, SheffieldSK38L26/08/20251minevc57_irecords_extract
Ingleby Ave, DerbySK33L21/08/202510minevc57_irecords_extract
DWT Wyver LaneSK34P13/08/20253mine (empty)vc57_irecords_extract
DWT Wyver LaneSK34P09/04/20253mine (empty)vc57_irecords_extract
Peak District National Park, High Peak, England, GBSK08R09/03/20251Larvavc57_irecords_extract
Allestree Park, DerbySK34K27/02/20251minevc57_irecords_extract
Markham Vale North TipSK47L27/02/202550minevc57_irecords_extract
Staunton Harold ReservoirSK32S05/02/20251mine (empty)vc57_irecords_extract
Netherseal,Grange WoodSK21S28/01/20251leafminevc57_irecords_extract
Cote Heath Wood (west)SK07L21/11/20244mine (tenantvc57_irecords_extract
Cote Heath Wood (west)SK07L21/11/20243mine (tenantvc57_irecords_extract
Eccles Road, Chapel-en-le-FrithSK08F11/11/20241Larvavc57_irecords_extract
Burton upon TrentSK32P05/11/20241Minevc57_irecords_extract
Pottery WoodSK32G05/11/20241Minevc57_irecords_extract
DWT Wyver LaneSK34P30/10/20247mine (empty)vc57_irecords_extract
Ashwood Park, BuxtonSK07R28/10/20241Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Tom Wood, CharlesworthSJ99W26/10/20241Larvavc57_irecords_extract
Chee DaleSK17G15/10/20241minevc57_irecords_extract
TaddingtonSK17K13/10/20241minevc57_irecords_extract
Station Approach Wood, BuxtonSK07L08/10/20241Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Crowestones, BuxtonSK07R07/10/20241minevc57_irecords_extract
Longdendale, Torside carparkSK09U26/09/20245Leaf-minevc57_irecords_extract
Alvaston Park, DerbySK33S21/09/20241minevc57_irecords_extract
River Derwent, DerbySK33S21/09/20241minevc57_irecords_extract
River Derwent, DerbySK33S21/09/20241minevc57_irecords_extract
River Wye, Level LaneSK07G17/09/20241minevc57_irecords_extract
Fernilee (trackside)SK07E16/09/20241Adultvc57_irecords_extract
DWT Wyver LaneSK34P12/09/20243mine (empty)vc57_irecords_extract
MinsterSK26K11/09/20241Minevc57_irecords_extract
Railway Station Wood, BuxtonSK07L09/09/20241Adultvc57_irecords_extract
DWT Wyver LaneSK34P04/09/20241mine (empty)vc57_irecords_extract
Ripon Gardens, BuxtonSK07Q20/04/20241Larvavc57_irecords_extract
High Plantation, DerbyshireSK07L05/04/20241Larvavc57_irecords_extract
Clowne greenway CreswellSK57C26/03/20241minevc57_irecords_extract
Duke's Drive Woodland, BuxtonSK07R21/03/20241Larvavc57_irecords_extract
White Knowle Road, BuxtonSK07R27/02/20241Larvavc57_irecords_extract
Wyver LaneSK34P20/02/2024102mine (empty)vc57_irecords_extract
Cracken Edge, ChinleySK08G22/01/20241Larvavc57_irecords_extract
Poppy WoodSK32S22/11/20231Minevc57_irecords_extract
North Lees monadSK28G10/11/20231Minevc57_irecords_extract
Calke ParkSK32R07/10/20231Minevc57_irecords_extract
Bakewell Road Woodland, BuxtonSK07R02/10/20231Larvavc57_irecords_extract
Calke ParkSK32R01/10/20231Minevc57_irecords_extract
Carver's RocksSK32G30/09/20231Minevc57_irecords_extract
Carver's RocksSK32H21/09/20231Minevc57_irecords_extract
Marple, UKSJ98T28/04/20231Larvavc57_irecords_extract
Marple, UKSJ98T28/04/20231Larvavc57_irecords_extract
Combs Reservoir, DerbyshireSK07J07/04/20231Larvavc57_irecords_extract
Grinlow Woods (west) BuxtonSK07L06/04/20231Larvavc57_irecords_extract
Hogshaw Wood, BuxtonSK07S01/04/20231Larvavc57_irecords_extract
Foxlow Wood, BuxtonSK07R31/03/20231Larvavc57_irecords_extract
FairholmesSK18U11/02/202320minevc57_irecords_extract
Scalpcliffe WoodsSK22L02/02/202320minevc57_irecords_extract
Allestree ParkSK34K25/09/20221Minevc57_irecords_extract
Mam TorSK18G01/10/20211Minevc57_irecords_extract
Hogshaw (+ Former Tip)SK07S25/09/20211Minevc57_irecords_extract
Hogshaw (+ Former Tip)SK07S22/09/20211Minevc57_irecords_extract
Hogshaw (+ Former Tip)SK07S08/08/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Cunning DaleSK07W12/05/20211Minevc57_irecords_extract
Former Saint-Gobain Pipeworks, Staveley [centroid]SK47C20/10/20201Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Bluebank Pools LNR, Whittington, nr. ChesterfieldSK37X31/08/20201Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Former Staveley Iron Works, Staveley [centroid]SK47C30/08/20201Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Former Staveley Chemical Works, Staveley [centroid]SK47H24/08/20201Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Bluebank Pools LNR, Whittington, nr. ChesterfieldSK37X01/08/20201Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Former Saint-Gobain Pipeworks, Staveley [centroid]SK47C29/07/20201Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hogshaw (+ Former Tip)SK07S12/09/20191Minevc57_irecords_extract
ETHEROW COUNTRY PARKSJ99Q01/06/20191adultvc57_irecords_extract
Grange WoodSK21S13/09/20181Minevc57_irecords_extract
Meersbrook ParkSK38M01/01/20181Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Beeley to RowsleySK26T23/03/20172not recordedvc57_irecords_extract
Ashwood Park, BuxtonSK07R02/01/20171pre-adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lady Canning's PlantationSK28W24/10/20161pre-adultvc57_irecords_extract
Blacka Moor and PlantationSK28V10/10/20161pre-adultvc57_irecords_extract
Burrs Wood, Cordwell ValleySK37C01/11/20151mine (empty)vc57_irecords_extract
Smith's Gorse, Hartshorne, SwadlincoteSK32G15/08/20141Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Derby Conference CentreSK33S11/04/20141not recordedvc57_irecords_extract
Wood Lane,Newhall,SwadlincoteSK22V11/04/20146Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Spring Wood NR, CalkeSK32R16/03/20141Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Bramley Dale, Calver, CurburSK27G07/02/201450Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Robin Wood, TicknallSK32M01/09/20131Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Millennium Meadow NR, DuffieldSK34L02/06/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Millennium Meadow NR, DuffieldSK34L30/05/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lea Wood,Holloway,MatlockSK35H17/10/20121Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Lightwood, BuxtonSK07M22/09/20121Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Millers DaleSK17G03/09/20111Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Bretby Woods, Thorntree Lane, Newhall, SwadlincoteSK22V20/08/20112Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Thorpe, DovedaleSK15K13/10/20101Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Ashford in the WaterSK16Z22/09/20101Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Ashford in the WaterSK16Z22/09/20101Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
BamfordSK28B21/09/20101Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Ladybower ResrSK18U03/09/20101Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Howden ResrSK19S25/08/20101Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Padley Gorge, Nether PadleySK27P19/08/20101Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Carvers Rocks, Hartshorne, SwadlincoteSK32G18/08/20101Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Hopton Wood, CromfordSK25S16/10/20091Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Hopton Wood NRSK25T16/10/20091Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
CromfordSK25Y16/10/20091Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Linacre WoodSK37G13/10/20091Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Stoney MiddletonSK27H12/10/20091Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Coombs Dale,Stoney MiddletonSK27H12/10/20091Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
HopeSK18R07/10/20091Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Carvers Rocks NR,HartshorneSK32G03/10/20091Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Foremark Resr (sailing club area), TicknallSK32H02/10/20091Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
NorburySK14G01/10/20091Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Tissington Trail, AshbourneSK14T01/10/20091Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
CastletonSK18L10/09/20091Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Pin DaleSK18L10/09/20091Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Roman Lakes,MarpleSJ98U16/04/20091Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Goyt Valley, MellorSJ98T16/04/20091Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
MellorSJ98Z14/04/20091Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
MellorSJ98Z11/04/20091Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Calke ParkSK32L25/10/20081Minevc57_irecords_extract
Calke Park,TicknallSK32R25/10/20081Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Lathkill Dale,BakewellSK16Y19/09/20081Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Monsall Trail, BuxtonSK17L14/09/20081Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Alfreton Park, AlfretonSK45C21/05/20081Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
New Mills (Broadhurst Edge Plantation)SJ98Y03/05/20081Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Stanhope BretbySK22V03/03/20084Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Robin Wood, TicknallSK32M26/10/20074Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Cramside Wood (DWT reserve)SK17R20/06/20071Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Derwent DamsSK19R06/05/20071Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Hilton Gravel Pits NR, Hilton, Burton on TrentSK23K18/11/20061Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Shallcross Wood, Goyt Valley, Whaley BridgeSK07E26/09/20061Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Carr Vale NR,BolsoverSK46P13/09/20061Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Carr Vale NR,BolsoverSK47K13/09/20061Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Ogston Carr Wood,nr Ogston ResSK35U12/07/20061Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Clattercotes Wood, nr Ogston ResrSK36K12/07/20061Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Ticknall Limeyards (stone bridge in centre), TicknallSK32L25/12/20051Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Robin Wood (east edge of wood), TicknallSK32S23/12/20051Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Foremark Res (Boat Yard edge), TicknallSK32G04/12/20051Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
nr Hulland WardSK24M29/01/20051Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Robin Wood, TicknallSK32N28/10/20033Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Hillclifflane, nr IdridgehaySK24Y02/11/20021Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Swanwick, AlfretonSK45B05/12/20011Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Brackley Gate, nr CoxbenchSK34W03/11/20011Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Abbotsholme School, RocesterSK13E04/10/20011Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Broomfield Hall, Morley, DerbySK34V02/11/19961Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data
Rowsley Sidings, RowsleySK26S12/11/19831Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data

 
Stigmella continuella       Stigmella splendidissimella

Copyright Tony Davison © 2025 www.derbyshiremoths.org

Scroll to Top