Momphidae

40.001 Great Mompha Mompha conturbatella (Hübner, [1819])

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 6.5 to 8.5mm

Habitats: Wasteground, woodland clearings, verges, downland, heathland and other sites where the foodplants are present.

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on the leaves of Rosebay Willowherb and sometimes Broad-leaved Willowherb. It feeds from within the tightly spun upper leaves of a young plant which are held in a vertical position. The larva is pale red-brown, with a greenish tint on the first few segments. The head, prothoracic plate and thoracic legs are black, with a brown anal plate. It pupates in a grey spindle-shaped cocoon spun amongst the leaf litter, from late May onwards.