Mompha ochraceella (Curtis, 1839)

buff mompha

on Epilobium

Epilobium hirsutum, Belgium, prov. East-Flanders, Lebbeke, 12.iv.2020 © Ruben Meert: infested plant in spring

broken stem base with bore hole

three tunnels

larva higher up in the stem

larva taken out of its gallery

1.v.2020: cocon in the base of a leaf

opened cocoon with larva

mine

The larva lives as a bark miner and stem borer in late summer and autumn. It descends into the rootstock for hibernation. After hibernation large, lower surface blotch mines are made in the lower leaves, from a gallery in the bark. They start in the base of the leaf, and are centered over the midrib. The mine contains hardly any frass. The larva can make several mines. Sometimes several larvae in a mine. Pupation in the mine.

host plants

Onagraceae, narrowly monophagous

Epilobium hirsutum.

Maček (1999a) also mentions Chamerion angustifolium; this needs further confirmation.

phenology

Mining larvae in early spring, up to April.

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2010).

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

LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

distribution within Europe

Almost all Europe (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

larva

Yellowish white; head, prothoracic and anal plate light brown (Koster, 2002b; Koster & Sinev, 2003a).

references

Biesenbaum (2010b), Buhr (1935b), Emmet & Langmaid (2002b), Hering (1957a), Koster (2002b), Koster & Sinev (2003a), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Maček (1999a), De Prins (1998a), Robbins (1991a), Skala (1949a), Szőcs (1977a).