Common Thistle Miner, Pointed Groundling
Scrobipalpa acuminatella
Scrobipalpa acuminatella is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found in most of Europe, as well as Turkey, southern Siberia, Central Asia and China (Anhui).
32
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrobipalpa_acuminatella
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Gelechiidae
Genus
Scrobipalpa
Common Thistle Miner, Pointed Groundling belongs to the family Gelechiidae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Scrobipalpa acuminatella is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found in most of Europe, as well as Turkey, southern Siberia, Central Asia and China (Anhui). It was recently reported from Canada, with records from Ontario and Québec.
The Common Thistle Miner faces significant threats from habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and urban development, which reduces the availability of its host plants. Climate change poses additional risks by altering the distribution and phenology of both the species and its thistle hosts, potentially disrupting critical breeding cycles.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This species inhabits open grasslands, meadows, field margins, and disturbed areas where various thistle species (Cirsium and Carduus) grow. It is typically found in semi-natural habitats including chalk downs, coastal areas, and agricultural landscapes with abundant host plants.
Threats
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Urban development and land conversion
Climate change impacts on host plant availability
Loss of semi-natural grasslands
Pesticide use in agricultural areas
Found in 32 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). Common Thistle Miner, Pointed Groundling (Scrobipalpa acuminatella). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/common-thistle-miner-pointed-groundling