Nut-tree Dot Stigmella microtheriella

Formerly given the vernacular name Nut-tree Pigmy. Given that there's a large Hazel tree overhanging my garden a few feet from where my trap is set every night, it's surprising that I've never caught an adult microtheriella in the trap (or at least been able to identify any I've caught).

This was the first adult I've identified. It was beaten from a Hazel tree which was a good clue and keyed to microtheriella using the Nepticulidae key at www.kleinevlinders.nl providing I took the median fascia as not or hardly metallic rather than shining metallic (it was pretty shining, so I wasn't convinced here but the other option didn't lead anywhere sensible). The genitalia confirmed the ID.

female Nut-tree Dot Stigmella microtheriella showing close-up of bottom of corpus bursae before setting and whole genitalia (minus the bits of the ovipositor end that came off during processing) after setting, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 12th September 2024

I have previously found the leafmines a few times, always on Hazel.

Nut-tree Dot Stigmella microtheriella leaf-mines, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 13th November 2021

These were identified by others during a leaf-mining event run by the Norfolk Moth Survey.

Nut-tree Dot Stigmella microtheriella larva and leaf-mines, Lynford (Norfolk, UK), 13th October 2018

Each pair of photos here show the top and bottom of the leaf.

Nut-tree Dot Stigmella microtheriella leaf-mines, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 13th November 2021

I was with Graham Moates for this one and he identified it.

Nut-tree Dot Stigmella microtheriella leaf-mine, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 31st July 2024

Nut-tree Dot Stigmella microtheriella leaf-mines, Elmham Park (Norfolk, UK), 26th September 2022