Mompha conturbatella

Mompha conturbatella, also known as the fireweed mompha moth, is a moth in the family Momphidae found in Asia, Europe and North America. It was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1819.

Mompha conturbatella
Mompha conturbatella. Dorsal view
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Momphidae
Genus: Mompha
Species:
M. conturbatella
Binomial name
Mompha conturbatella
(Hübner, 1819)
Synonyms
  • Tinea conturbatella Hübner, [1819]
  • Lita elegantella Zetterstedt, 1840

Distribution and habitat

This species has a Holarctic distribution. In the Palearctic, it is found from Europe through the Caucasus and central Asia to the Russian Far East.[1][2] The species is also common in North America.[3] These moths mainly occur in mountains, woodland, hedge rows and marshy areas.[4]

Description

Mompha conturbatella has a wingspan of 11–17 mm.[5] Forewings of these moths show stains of various color, ranging from brown to black, bluish, russet and white. On the dorsum are present several raised tufts of scales.[3][4]

Biology

Mompha conturbatella is a univoltine species.[3] Adults are on wing from June to July.[4] They feed on nectar of hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) and rosebay willowherb or fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium).[6]

The larvae feed on fireweed, dwarf fireweed (Epilobium latifolium) (and possibly broad-leaved willowherb (Epilobium montanum) ).[2][4] Larvae can be found from May to June.[3][6] At the end of spring, the larvae live between spun together leaves at the tip of the plant and later into the stem. Pupation takes place in a yellowish brown cocoon in litter on the ground.[5]

References
  1. "Mompha (Mompha) conturbatella (Hübner, 1819)". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  2. Savela, Markku. "Mompha Hübner, [1825]". Lepidoptera and some other life forms. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  3. Koster, Sjaak; Sergey, Sinev (2003). Momphidae. In Microlepidoptera of Europe (Book 5). Apollo Books. ISBN 978-8788757668.
  4. Kimber, Ian. "40.001 BF885 Mompha conturbatella (Hübner, [1819])". UKmoths. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  5. "Mompha conturbatella". Naturhistoriska risksmuseet (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  6. Lindsey, J K. "The Ecology of Commanster". Commanster.eu. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
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