Momphidae

40.008 Garden Mompha Mompha subbistrigella (Haworth, 1828)

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 3.5 to 5.5mm

Habitats: The banks of streams, ponds and ditches or gardens, wasteground and woodland clearings, depending on the foodplant.

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on the seeds of Broad-leaved Willowherb or occasionally on Marsh Willowherb, Square-stalked Willowherb or Hoary Willowherb. The larva bores into a seed-pod to feed on the ripening seeds. Several pods may be used before it is full-fed. In earlier instars the larva is creamy yellow, but the last instar larva is orange, then red pre-pupation, in both the latter cases it is lighter between the segments. The head, prothorax and anal plates are brown. The full-fed larva bores out of the shrunken seed-pod in August to pupate in a whitish cocoon in the leaf litter.