Red Elm Pigmy
CR

Red Elm Pigmy

Stigmella lemniscella

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigmella_lemniscella

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

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.

Threat summary

Habitat

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.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Nepticulidae

Strawberry PigmyVU

Strawberry Pigmy

Ectoedemia arcuatella

Unknown
Agrimony PigmyVU

Agrimony Pigmy

Ectoedemia agrimoniae

Unknown
CR

Field Lotus Pigmy

Trifurcula eurema

Unknown
Pinch-barred PigmyCR

Pinch-barred Pigmy

Ectoedemia atricollis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Red Elm Pigmy classified as Critically Endangered?
Red Elm Pigmy is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. 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.
Where does Red Elm Pigmy live?
Red Elm Pigmy occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Red Elm Pigmy?
The main threats to Red Elm Pigmy are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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