Red Elm Pigmy
Stigmella lemniscella
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigmella_lemniscella
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Nepticulidae
Genus
Stigmella
Red Elm Pigmy belongs to the family Nepticulidae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Red Elm Pigmy faces severe population declines due to widespread loss of its elm host trees from Dutch elm disease and habitat fragmentation. Urban development and agricultural expansion have eliminated much of the species' remaining suitable habitat, while climate change threatens the delicate synchronization between the moth's lifecycle and its host plant phenology.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits deciduous woodlands, parklands, and hedgerows where elm trees (Ulmus species) are present, typically in lowland areas and river valleys. The species is entirely dependent on elm foliage for larval development, mining leaves of various elm species including field elm and wych elm.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Red Elm Pigmy faces severe population declines due to widespread loss of its elm host trees from Dutch elm disease and habitat fragmentation. Urban development and agricultural expansion have eliminated much of the species' remaining suitable habitat, while climate change threatens the delicate synchronization between the moth's lifecycle and its host plant phenology.
Agricultural intensification
Dutch elm disease decimating host trees
Urban development and habitat fragmentation
Climate change disrupting host-plant synchronization
Pesticide use in managed landscapes
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). Red Elm Pigmy (Stigmella lemniscella). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/red-elm-pigmy