The adults of Stigmella perpygmaeella and S. incognitella are very difficult to identify to species with any degree of confidence without microscopic examination of their dissected genetalia. S. incognitella, however, is very scarce in eastern England and is not known to occur in Nottinghamshire, so the individual above is probably S. perpygmaeella. The larvae of S. perpygmaeella mine the leaves of Hawthorn and it is a common and widespread species throughout England and Wales. Their tiny size (approx. 2mm in length) makes them easily overlooked.
Ray Wilson owns the copyright of all images on this site.
They may not be used or copied in any form without prior written permission.
raywilsonphotography@googlemail.com