Mompha circumscriptella - Hodges#1434
Mompha circumscriptella
This record describes Mompha circumscriptella (species). Recorded family: Momphidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : Small, narrow-winged moth with distinctive FW color pattern. Can be differentiated from similar microleps by the presence of two or more tufts of raised scales on the forewing. The head vestiture is smooth. a Considerable variation in size of adult moths and in FW ground color can occur, depending upon the particular species of Oenothera from which the moth is reared. Genital morphology of all of these variations is identical, so that, on basis of morphology, all appear to represent a single species, with the observed variation being non-genetic and determined by the larval foodplant. a
Wikipedia reference for Mompha circumscriptella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mompha_circumscriptella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Momphidae (Momphid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Momphinae
- Genus
- Mompha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larva : Internal feeder on evening primroses, ( Oenothera ), boring into the fruit of its host, with pupation occurring inside the fruit. The infested fruit does not show any externally visible evidence to indicate the presence of the larva. The best strategy for rearing is simply to collect and cage entire clusters of fruits. a
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Mompha circumscriptella. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Mompha circumscriptella - Hodges#1434 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Robert Lord Zimlich
Frequently Asked Questions About Mompha circumscriptella - Hodges#1434
What is Mompha circumscriptella - Hodges#1434?
Mompha circumscriptella - Hodges#1434 (Mompha circumscriptella) is a species in the family Momphidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Mompha circumscriptella - Hodges#1434?
Adult : Small, narrow-winged moth with distinctive FW color pattern. Can be differentiated from similar microleps by the presence of two or more tufts of raised scales on the forewing. The head vestiture is smooth. a
What does Mompha circumscriptella - Hodges#1434 eat?
The diet of the Mompha circumscriptella - Hodges#1434 includes Larva : Internal feeder on evening primroses, ( Oenothera ), boring into the fruit of its host, with pupation occurring inside the fruit. The infested fruit does not show any externally visible evidence to indicate the presence of the larva. The best strategy for rearing is simply to collect and cage entire clusters of fruits. a.