Clover midget
Phyllonorycter insignitella
Phyllonorycter insignitella is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found in all of Europe, except the Balkan Peninsula.
19
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllonorycter_insignitella
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Gracillariidae
Genus
Phyllonorycter
Clover midget belongs to the family Gracillariidae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Phyllonorycter insignitella is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found in all of Europe, except the Balkan Peninsula.
The Clover midget (Phyllonorycter insignitella) faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized clover host plants. Agricultural intensification, including the use of pesticides and conversion of traditional grasslands, has significantly reduced suitable breeding sites. Climate change may also be affecting the synchronization between the moth's life cycle and its host plant availability.
Key Facts
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Clover midget (Phyllonorycter insignitella) faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized clover host plants. Agricultural intensification, including the use of pesticides and conversion of traditional grasslands, has significantly reduced suitable breeding sites. Climate change may also be affecting the synchronization between the moth's life cycle and its host plant availability.
Agricultural intensification and pesticide use
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Land use changes
Loss of host plant populations
Climate change impacts
Found in 19 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Clover midget (Phyllonorycter insignitella). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/clover-midget