Mompha terminella

Mompha terminella is a moth in the family Momphidae found in Europe and North America.

Mompha terminella
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Momphidae
Genus: Mompha
Species:
M. terminella
Binomial name
Mompha terminella
Synonyms

Description

The wingspan is 8–10 mm.[2] Adults are on wing from July to August in one generation per year.[3]

The larvae feed on small enchanter's nightshade (Circaea alpina) and enchanter's nightshade (Circaea lutetiana) mining the leaves of their host plant. The mine starts as a long, narrow, full depth, strongly spiral corridor. The frass is initially deposited in fine grains, but later in a central line. The larva leaves the mine to start elsewhere, either as a continuation of the existing corridor or in a new leaf. This new mine starts as a narrow corridor but soon widens into a large blotch. The frass is deposited in a broad band. Pupation takes place outside of the mine. Larvae can be found from mid-August to mid-September. They are whitish with a light brown head.[4]

Distribution

It is found from Fennoscandia to the Iberian Peninsula and from Ireland to Romania. It is also found in North America.[1][5]


References
  1. "Mompha (Psacaphora) terminella (Humphreys & Westwood, 1845)". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  2. microlepidoptera.nl Archived 2011-02-12 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Kimber, Ian. "40.014 BF881 Mompha terminella (Humphreys & Westwood, 1845)". UKmoths. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  4. Ellis, W N. "Mompha terminella (Humphreys & Westwood, 1845) enchanters mompha". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  5. "421855.00 – 1456 – Mompha terminella – (Westwood, 1851)". Moth Photographers Group. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
A leaf of Circaea lutetiana mined by larva
Larva



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