Common Thorn Pigmy

<em>Stigmella crataegella</em>, the common thorn pigmy, is a tiny moth in the family Nepticulidae, recorded from Belgium, Denmark, and Sweden. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Like other nepticulid moths, this species is a leaf miner; its larvae feed within the leaves of hawthorn (<em>Crataegus</em>) species, creating characteristic galleries or blotch mines visible on host leaves. Adults are among the smallest Lepidoptera, with wingspans typically only a few millimeters, and are distinguished by metallic forewing coloration. The species completes one or more generations per year, with adult emergence typically in spring and summer. It inhabits hedgerows, scrub, woodland edges, and gardens where hawthorn is present. Diet of larvae consists of hawthorn leaf tissue; adults typically do not feed. The nepticulid moths are a highly speciose family, and many species remain poorly studied. Biological traits such as precise adult body weight, lifespan, and larval development times remain poorly documented in standardized scientific assessments for this species.