Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla       Stenoptilia zophodactylu
45.019 BF1506  –  Pterophoridae –  Pterophorinae – Stenoptilia millieridactyla – Saxifrage Plume – (Bruand,1861) Adult Micro:  CAT 2 – Confusion Species –       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
Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce        purple – Leaf Miner     day-flying – Day-flying
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Pterophoridae  >> Pterophorinae
Other Name/s: S.saxifragae
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
ID pointers: Forewing is brown becoming reddish or orangney brown towards the dorsum. with a dark fused double spot at the base of the cleft. Forewing cleft into lobes from just beyond two thirds. A longitudinal spot in the dorsal half of the costal lobe and a small dark spot just beyond one-third. 
Distribution:  (Last record: 14 September 2024 at Ilkeston )  –  A very localised species in Derbyshire, as it is eleswhere in Britian. It was introduced in the late 1960’s and is spreading. Garden records may originate from larvae introduced with cultivated plants of S.Hypnoides, but the moth is able to spread between gardens, and has mainly been found in areas not very distant from wild populations of S. hypnoides (Mossy Saxifrage). Larvae have been found in the Derbyshire Dales where wild S.Hynoides exists.
Flight Period: June /  July /  –  On the wing in June – July. Mine Period: January /  February /  March /  April /  August /  September /  October /  November /  December /   – A leaf miner -During late August the young larvae, unnoticed, mine the leaves and stems of the food-plant. Leaf mines are easily found in the following April when they are their largest. Moth Activity: Cathemeral   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Ian White, Clive Ashton  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 31 August 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 17-30mm
 Food Plant: Mossy saxifrage (Saxifraga hypnoides).
Last Recorded Year: 2024
Last Recorded By – Brian Hobby
Last Recorded General Area – Ilkeston
IMAGES BELOW:  Buxton, Derbyshire – Ian White© – Cromford, Derbyshire – Clive Ashton©

Saxifrage Plume - Stenoptilia millieridactyla - Ian White
Saxifrage Plume – Stenoptilia millieridactyla – Buxton – Ian White – June 2024
45.019 BF1506 Stenoptilia millieridactyla - Saxifrage Plume - Ian White
Stenoptilia millieridactyla – Saxifrage Plume – Ian White
Stenoptilia millieridactyla - Saxifrage Plume - Clive Ashton
Saxifrage Plume – Stenoptilia millieridactyla – Cromford – Clive Ashton – June 2024
saxifrage plume - Stenoptilia millieridactyla - Clive Ashton
Saxifrage Plume – Stenoptilia millieridactyla – Cromford – Clive Ashton – June 2024
Saxifrage Plume - Stenoptilia millieridactyla - Ian White
45.019 BF1506 Stenoptilia millieridactyla - Saxifrage Plume - Ian White
Stenoptilia millieridactyla - Saxifrage Plume - Clive Ashton
saxifrage plume - Stenoptilia millieridactyla - Clive Ashton

45.019 BF1506 Stenoptilia millieridactyla 45.019 BF1506 Stenoptilia millieridactyla -June 2024 - Buxton - Ian White ©

Distribution Map for Stenoptilia millieridactyla

Found 50 records
    ↳ 3 from After 2025
    ↳ 6 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 41 from Before 2020

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.

******* Choose ONLY one at a time, of either Monad, Tetrad or Hectad Distribution - each has it's own set of data. Also, the distribution maps cover ALL recorded data. *******

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.

Land-cover * shows the variety of land-cover within the VC57 area, based on the CORINE (Coordination of Information on the Environment) forty-four thematic classes of land-cover. This will show, to a greater or lesser degree, the number and variety of moths found in different land-cover types. The UK continues to operate within the Copernicus programme, with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) providing Corine Land Cover (CLC) datasets for the UK and its territories.


NBN Atlas UK Distribution for – Stenoptilia millieridactyla

⚠️ 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: Stenoptilia millieridactyla
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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


First/Last Recorded Dates: Stenoptilia millieridactyla
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: Stenoptilia millieridactyla
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Stenoptilia millieridactyla
AGR: 0%   |   Total % Change: 0%


CUSUM Analysis: Stenoptilia millieridactyla
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 14 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 7 (July) 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 2006, reaching above average levels. The lowest population point occurred near 2024, 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: Stenoptilia millieridactyla
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Stenoptilia millieridactyla
( 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
Stenoptilia millieridactyla
( 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 - Stenoptilia millieridactyla – 50 records available

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

TaxonSite NameTetradYearDateCountStageSource
Stenoptilia millieridactylaIlkeston, DerbyshireSK44K202529/08/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Stenoptilia millieridactylaupper cromford gardenSK25Y202512/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Stenoptilia millieridactylaBuxton (p)SK07R202519/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Stenoptilia millieridactylaIlkeston, DerbyshireSK44K202406/09/20242adultvc57_irecords_extract
Stenoptilia millieridactylaIlkeston, DerbyshireSK44K202414/09/20242adultvc57_irecords_extract
Stenoptilia millieridactylaBuxton SK, UKSK07R202401/07/20241Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Stenoptilia millieridactylaupper cromford gardenSK25Y202426/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Stenoptilia millieridactylaNorton Lees, Sheffield (VC)SK38L202428/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Stenoptilia millieridactylaShirland - Hallfieldgate LaneSK35Z202013/06/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Stenoptilia millieridactylaNorton LeesSK38L201915/07/20191adultDanes_2019-2021
Stenoptilia millieridactylaBuxton SK, UKSK07S201310/07/20131Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Stenoptilia millieridactylaLang Rd, Alvaston, DerbySK33R201309/07/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaBackgarden MarehaySK34Z201119/09/20111adultvc57_irecords_extract
Stenoptilia millieridactylaBamford St,RipleySK34Z201119/09/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaBackgarden MarehaySK34Z201111/08/20111adultvc57_irecords_extract
Stenoptilia millieridactylaBackgarden MarehaySK34Z201116/08/20111adultvc57_irecords_extract
Stenoptilia millieridactylaBamford St,RipleySK34Z201111/08/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaBamford St,RipleySK34Z201116/08/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaBackgarden MarehaySK34Z201123/07/20111adultvc57_irecords_extract
Stenoptilia millieridactylaBackgarden MarehaySK34Z201124/07/20111adultvc57_irecords_extract
Stenoptilia millieridactylaBamford St,RipleySK34Z201123/07/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaBamford St,RipleySK34Z201124/07/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaAult Hucknall,GlapwellSK46S200805/08/20081Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaAult Hucknall,GlapwellSK46S200821/07/20081Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaChurch St,Holloway,MatlockSK35I200704/07/20071Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaAult Hucknall,GlapwellSK46S200708/07/20071Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaAult Hucknall,GlapwellSK46S200707/07/20071Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaFar Cross,Cavendish Park,MatlockSK36A200604/10/20064Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaStarkholmes, nr MatlockSK25Z200607/10/20063Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaFar Cross,Cavendish Park,MatlockSK36A200607/10/20065Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaFar Cross,Cavendish Park,MatlockSK36A200609/10/20062Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaFar Cross,Cavendish Park,MatlockSK36A200627/09/20067Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaStarkholmes, nr MatlockSK25Z200629/09/20065Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaEdgecote Drive,Newhall,SwadlincoteSK22V200622/08/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaAult Hucknall,GlapwellSK46S200514/07/20051Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaAult Hucknall,GlapwellSK46S200522/07/20051Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaAult Hucknall,GlapwellSK46S200509/07/20054Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaAult Hucknall,GlapwellSK46S200510/07/20053Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaChurch St,Holloway,MatlockSK35I200415/05/20041Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaHollowaySK35I200209/07/20021Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaHollowaySK35I200228/07/20021Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaChurch St,Holloway,MatlockSK35I200110/07/20011Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaLea, Holloway, MatlockSK35I200119/07/20011Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaChurch St,Holloway,MatlockSK35I200122/07/20012Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaDeep Dale, Derbys (km from Buxton)SK07V199827/05/199810Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaChurch St,Holloway,MatlockSK35I199707/07/19971Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaFernhill Rd, MellorSJ98U199723/06/19971Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaFernhill Rd, MellorSJ98U199710/05/19971Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaThreepieces, Veron Lane, Kelstedge, AshoverSK36G198101/01/19811Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stenoptilia millieridactylaHighfield Rd, ChesterfieldSK37Q196924/07/19691Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla       Stenoptilia zophodactylu

Copyright Tony Davison © 2025 www.derbyshiremoths.org

Scroll to Top