Momphidae

40.013 Flame Mompha Mompha locupletella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 4.5 to 6mm

Habitats: Mainly damp sites where the foodplants are present.

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva mines a lower leaf of Broad-leaved Willowherb, Chickweed Willowherb, Marsh Willowherb or Spear-leaved Willowherb. The first gallery follows a vein from the midrib, with an irregular line of frass down the middle. A fresh gallery mine along the midrib is soon started, often on a new leaf. This short mine with irregular lines of frass, soon becomes a large elongated blotch with frass deposited in heaps. The larva is grey-green with a black head and black divided prothoracic plate. The dirty white spindle-shaped cocoon is spun on vegetation or sometimes in the leaf litter.