Circumscript Mompha
Common NameCircumscript Mompha
Scientific NameMompha circumscriptella
FamilyMomphidae
Wingspan (mm)9.5
Primary Colorswhite, reddish-brown
HabitatDamp areas, fens, marshes, wet meadows, riverbanks
Geographic RangeEurope, including the British Isles, and parts of Asia
Host PlantsEpilobium palustre, Epilobium montanum, Epilobium hirsutum
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are leaf-miners and stem-borers, feeding on various species of willowherbs (Epilobium spp.), often creating galls or blotch mines. Pupation occurs in a cocoon, typically on the ground or within the plant debris.
Identification TipsThe most distinctive feature for identification is the sharp, straight line separating the white basal half of the forewing from the reddish-brown distal half. The head and thorax are also white.
Description
A small moth characterized by its forewings, which are distinctly bicolored: the basal half is white, sharply contrasting with the reddish-brown to orange-brown distal half.
