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).