Mompha jurassicella
This record describes Mompha jurassicella (species). Recorded family: Momphidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan about 12mm. Superficially a rather dull looking species, but it is often is flecked with subtle shades. Dissection required to confirm adult records. Around areas where Great Willowherb is plentiful. There is a single generation, the adult moths on the wing from September, hibernating over winter and appearing again up to April. The larval foodplant is Great Willowherb, the larvae feeding internally in galleries in the stems during July and August. This scarce and rather local species occurs mainly in the south eastern region of England, with a few records from surrounding counties. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce A. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Momphidae
- Genus
- Mompha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around areas where Great Willowherb is plentiful.
Seasonal Activity
There is a single generation, the adult moths on the wing from September, hibernating over winter and appearing again up to April.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larval foodplant is Great Willowherb, the larvae feeding internally in galleries in the stems during July and August.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This scarce and rather local species occurs mainly in the south eastern region of England, with a few records from surrounding counties. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce A.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Mompha jurassicella. 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 jurassicella (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Mompha jurassicella
What is Mompha jurassicella?
Mompha jurassicella is a species in the family Momphidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Mompha jurassicella found?
Habitat: Around areas where Great Willowherb is plentiful.
When is Mompha jurassicella active?
Mompha jurassicella: seasonal activity - There is a single generation, the adult moths on the wing from September, hibernating over winter and appearing again up to April..
What is the life cycle of a Mompha jurassicella?
The larval foodplant is Great Willowherb, the larvae feeding internally in galleries in the stems during July and August.