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 
– Day-flying
– difficult to identify – detailed examination required, often a Gen Det and/or specimen and quality photographs are required.Confusion Species: Stigmella ruficapitella – Red-headed Dot; Stigmella samiatella – Chestnut Dot
ID pointers: Adult has black head and dark brownish wings with a bronzy sheen.
Often rests by day on tree trunks.
Often rests by day on tree trunks.
Distribution: (Last record: 13 November 2025 at Hayfield, Birch Vale, Sett valley ) – The status in Derbyshire is uncertain due to insufficient data. Leaf mines discovered at Staunton Harold Reservoir on 2/11/2025 and at Markham Vale on 6/11/2025, Longdendale 12/11/2025 and 8/11/2025, Hayfield 13/11/2025
General Comment: Notes on image by Christian Heintzen 13/11/2025 – Sett Valley – on Oak (Quercus robur) in green sector of fallen leaf > narrow corridor with central frass line leaving clear margins > oviposition on lower side of leaf away from leaf margin > larva yellow (here parasitised and darker) with dark prothoracic sclerites.
Mine Period Additional: None.
Mine ID Difficulty:
– Care required in ID process as confusion with similar leaf mines. Quality photos of the mine required. Mine Type/s: Gallery
Mine Feeding Method/s: N/A
Mine Comment: The early stages of the Stigmella group on oak present a real identification challenge especially if you are a beginner to Leaf Mine identification. In some cases the only way to achieve an ID is to rear through to the adult stage to be certain. It is important to first of all find where the egg of S.attricapitella has been laid. It should be shiny black and you should find it at the start of the mine. Determine whether it is on the upper or lower surface of the leaf. The mine is a relatively short gallery but widens quickly.The frass forms a long continues brown line thickening towards the wider part of the green gallery. Check egg position and check larval appearance. The larva should have a brown head and look for the black prothoracic sclerities. The mines are usually tenanted up to the middle of November. If the mine is vacated it is unidentifiable.
*** Last updated on 9 February 2026 by RP ***
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Christian Heintzen
Last Recorded General Area – Hayfield, Birch Vale, Sett valley
Selected Images:
Staunton Harold Res 2/11/2025 Tony Davison© / Markham Vale 6th and 8th Nov 2025 – Mark Radford©/ Longdendale 12/11/2025 & Hayfield 13/11/2025 Christian Heintzen©
Image Gallery
Occurrence Distribution From All Available Data (Adult & Immature)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
Distribution Map for Stigmella atricapitella
Found 9 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 4 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 5 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 4 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 5 from Before 2020
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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 – Stigmella atricapitella
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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:
Stigmella atricapitella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year: Stigmella atricapitella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Stigmella atricapitella
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
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Recordings By Year: Stigmella atricapitella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Stigmella atricapitella
AGR: 1.4% | Total % Change: 25%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Stigmella atricapitella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Stigmella atricapitella
Stigmella atricapitella
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
Stigmella atricapitella
Stigmella atricapitella
( 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 - Stigmella atricapitella – 9 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hayfield-Birch Vale, Sett Valley Trail | SK08D | 13/11/2025 | 1 | Leaf-mine | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Longdendale, Torside Clough | SK09T | 12/11/2025 | 2 | Leaf-mine | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Markham Vale North Tip | SK47L | 08/11/2025 | 1 | mine | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Longdendale, Woodhead, Birchen Bank Wood | SK19E | 07/11/2025 | 1 | Leaf-mine | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Bamford | SK28B | 21/09/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ladybower Resr | SK18U | 03/09/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Upper Wood, Howden Resr | SK19R | 25/08/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Padley Gorge, Nether Padley | SK27P | 19/08/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Hope | SK18R | 07/10/2009 | 1 | Larval Mine | vc57_danes_bc_data |