The Quercus feeding Stigmella species of the West Palaearctic: new species, key and distribution (Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae)

The species of the Stigmella ruficapitella group occurring in the Western Palaearctic and feeding on Quercus are reviewed. We recognise 19 species, five of which are described as new: Stigmella fasciata sp. n. on Quercus pubescens from Slovenia, Croatia, Greece and Turkey, S. cocciferae sp. n. on Q. coccifera from Greece, Turkey and Israel, S. kasyi sp.n. from Afghanistan, possibly feeding on Quercus baloot, S. bicuspidata sp. n. from Turkey (host unknown) and S. karsholti sp. n. on Q. canariensis from Tunisia. Stigmella ilicifoliella (Mendes, 1918) comb. n., stat. rev. is removed from synonymy with S. suberivora (Stainton, 1869), it occurs in France, Spain and Portugal, partly sympatric with S. suberivora on Quercus rotundifolia, Q. ilex and Q. suber. Stigmella nigra Dufrane, 1955 is synonymised with S. ilicifoliella. S. suberivora, S. ilicifoliella, S. szoecsiella (Borkowski, 1972), S. macrolepidella (Klimesch, 1978), S. zangherii (Klimesch, 1951), S. dorsiguttella (Johansson, 1971), S. trojana Z. & A. Lastuvka, 1998 and S. eberhardi (Johansson, 1971) are redescribed. A new diagnostic character on the forewing underside is described for male S. svenssoni (Johansson, 1971). Data on distribution and biology are given for all species, keys are given for males and for male and female genitalia. All known hostplants are listed, including several new records. The fauna on evergreen oaks, counting three species, is poor compared to that on deciduous oaks and compared to the genus Ectoedemia. The Eastern Mediterranean region, with about five endemic species, has a more diverse fauna than the Western part, were only three endemic species occur.