Mompha ochraceella
This record describes Mompha ochraceella (species). Recorded family: Momphidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 14 to 16 mm. A distinctive orange-yellow moth. Various habitats, especially in areas where the larval foodplant is found. Flying at night and attracted to light, the adults can be found on the wing between May and August. In common with several other Mompha species, the larvae feed on Willowherb in this case Great Willowherb, mining the stems and later the leaves. Occurs widely throughout much of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Mompha ochraceella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mompha_ochraceella.
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
Various habitats, especially in areas where the larval foodplant is found.
Seasonal Activity
Flying at night and attracted to light, the adults can be found on the wing between May and August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
In common with several other
Additional species information
Recorded status
Occurs widely throughout much of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Mompha ochraceella. 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 ochraceella (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Mompha ochraceella
What is Mompha ochraceella?
Mompha ochraceella is a species in the family Momphidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Mompha ochraceella found?
Habitat: Various habitats, especially in areas where the larval foodplant is found.
When is Mompha ochraceella active?
Mompha ochraceella: seasonal activity - Flying at night and attracted to light, the adults can be found on the wing between May and August..
What is the life cycle of a Mompha ochraceella?
In common with several other