Mompha locupletella
Encyclopedia
Mompha locupletella is a moth
in the Momphidae
family. It found in northern Europe
and mountainous areas in central and southern Europe up to north-western Spain
. In the east, the range extends to Zabaykalsky Krai and the Kuriles.
The wingspan
is 9-12 mm. There are generally two generations per year, although there is only one in the north. Adults of the first generation are on wing from the second half of May to the beginning of July. The second generation adults are on wing from August to the beginning of September.
The larvae feed on Epilobium alpestre, Epilobium alsinifolium, Epilobium lanceolatum, Epilobium montanum
, Epilobium palustre
and Epilobium roseum. The larvae initially make a number of short corridors, either in the same leaf or different ones. The corridors initially have a central line of frass
. After the corridor, an elongate blotch is made, starting at the midrib. Larvae can be found from April to May and from July to the beginning of August. Pupation takes place outside of the mine in a white cocoon on the ground.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
in the Momphidae
Momphidae
Momphidae is a family of moths. These tend to be rather small moths with a wingspan of up to 21 mm. The wings are held folded over the body at rest...
family. It found in northern Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and mountainous areas in central and southern Europe up to north-western Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. In the east, the range extends to Zabaykalsky Krai and the Kuriles.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 9-12 mm. There are generally two generations per year, although there is only one in the north. Adults of the first generation are on wing from the second half of May to the beginning of July. The second generation adults are on wing from August to the beginning of September.
The larvae feed on Epilobium alpestre, Epilobium alsinifolium, Epilobium lanceolatum, Epilobium montanum
Epilobium montanum
Epilobium montanum or Broad-leaved Willowherb is a species of willowherb....
, Epilobium palustre
Epilobium palustre
Epilobium palustre is a species of willowherb known by the common name marsh willowherb. This plant has a circumboreal distribution, and can be found farther south in mountainous areas. This is a hairy perennial growing spindly stems sometimes exceeding half a meter in height. Its stems have...
and Epilobium roseum. The larvae initially make a number of short corridors, either in the same leaf or different ones. The corridors initially have a central line of frass
Frass
Frass is the fine powdery material phytophagous insects pass as waste after digesting plant parts. It causes plants to excrete chitinase due to high chitin levels, it is a natural bloom stimulant, and has high nutrient levels. Frass is known to have abundant amoeba, beneficial bacteria, and fungi...
. After the corridor, an elongate blotch is made, starting at the midrib. Larvae can be found from April to May and from July to the beginning of August. Pupation takes place outside of the mine in a white cocoon on the ground.