Mompha epilobiella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

common mompha

Mompha epilobiella

Hoofddorp, 10.x.2023 © Laurens van der Linde

Mompha epilobiella on Epilobium hirsutum

Epilobium hirsutum, UK, Norfolk, Downham Market. 29.vi.2022 © Rob Edmunds

Mompha epilobiella on Epilobium hirsutum

unfolded leaf bunch

mine

Probably the young larve live as leaf miners, perhaps only facultatively. The mine is not described. Older larve live, mostly communally, in the spun uppermost leaves.

host plants

Onagraceae, oligophagous

Chamerion angustifolium; Epilobium hirsutum, montanum, palustre, roseum; Oenothera.

E. hirsutum is the main host plant; reports of other species than those mentioned above are dubious (Koster & Sinev, 2003a). Reports from Circaea generally refer to M. langiella.

phenology

Larvae from mid-May to June and again in July and early August; adults hibernate.

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2010).

NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2010).

LUX recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

distribution within Europe

All Europe (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

larva

Body pale yellow; head black; feet and prothoracic plate dark grey, anal plate brownish grey.

pupa

Described by Patočka (1997a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a).

synonyms

Anybia epilobiella; Mompha fulvescens (Haworth, 1828).

Mompha epilobiella Römer (1794) is a species different from M. epilobiella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775). to eliminate this risk of misunderstanding, in situations like this the youngest of the two names needs replacement, in this case by M. langiella (Hübner, 1796). Because of this confusing situation the older literature needs to be used with care. In, among other publications, Hering (1957a) epilobiella stands for langiella.

references

Ahr (1966a), Baldizzone & scalercio (2018a), Beiger (1955a, 1960a, 1979a), Buhr (1935b), Emmet & Langmaid (2002b), Fazekas & Schreurs (2010a), Huemer (2012a), Klimesch (1960a), Koster (2002b), Koster & Sinev (2003a), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Maček (1999a), Patočka (1997a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), De Prins & Steeman (2011a), Robbins (1991a), Seidel (1957a), Skala (1949a, 1951a), Skala & Zavřel (1945a), Stammer (2016a), Szőcs (1977a), Triberti, Longo Turri, Adami & Zanetti (2017a).