Mompha epilobiella
Mompha epilobiella
Mompha epilobiella is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of Frans moths ( Momphidae ).
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 10-13 millimeters. The head is yellowish mottled white and brown. The thorax is ocher. The front wings are also ocher and greyish on the Costa loader. An indistinct yellow spot is located on the Costa loader at 3/ 4 of the forewing length, a similar spot is located at the inner angle. Two small tufts protruding slightly dark brown scales are located at 1 /5 of the forewing length and in the middle of the wing inner edge. The hind wings shining gray.
The males are distinguished by the following features of the like kind Mompha subbistrigella: The saccule is shortened and has a group of small apical teeth. The aedeagus has a hook-shaped cornutus and more straight Cornuti.
In females, the eighth tergite rounded at the rear end. The ductus bursae has a narrow and short rear and abruptly widened front. Both parts have a conspicuous sclerotized plate with edges strongly sclerotized.
Dissemination
The distribution area of Mompha epilobiella extends north to southern Fennoscandia and east to Asia Minor, the Caucasus and the submontane region of Central Asia. In eastern North America, the species was probably introduced. It occurs very frequently.
Biology
The caterpillars develop on shaggy fireweed (Epilobium hirsutum ), rarely also on mountain willow herb (Epilobium montanum ), Marsh Willowherb (Epilobium palustre ), Schmalblättrigem fireweed ( Chamaenerion angustifolium) and evening primrose species ( Oenothera ). Were repeated in the literature also called flowering plant families such as Great Fleabane ( Pulicaria dysenterica ), Common Loosestrife ( Lythrum salicaria ) and common agrimony ( Eupatorium cannabinum ). These proofs require confirmation.
It makes two, sometimes three generations per year. The caterpillars of the first generation are evolving from mid-May to June and the. Second generation from July to early August They live together between spun leaves. Up to 50 copies are often found on a plant. The young caterpillars are leaf miners or drill into the bolls at the top of the shoots. The caterpillars pupate in a white silky cocoon between the leaves. The moths overwinter. They can be found throughout the year, but in July and especially in August häufig.Die moths come to light.
System
From the literature, the following synonyms are known:
- Cleodora nebulella Stephens, 1834
- Recurvaria fulvescens Haworth, 1828
- Tinea epilobiella Denis & Schiffer Müller, 1775