Species Details

ABH: 40.003

BF: 887

Family: Momphidae

Taxon: Mompha lacteella

Authority: (Stephens, 1834)

Vernacular: Buff-headed Mompha

Account: Nationally scarce (Nb) and confined to woodland and waste ground in parts of England and Scotland. Infrequently recorded in Hampshire, with scattered records across both vice-counties. In the Isle of Wight, reported for the first time in 2016 with two further sightings to 2018, in Shanklin and Parkhurst Forest. Wingspan 9-13 mm. The main confusion species is M. propinquella from which it is distinguished by the beige colour of the head, thorax and basal blotch on the forewing and the dark brownish grey apical area of the forewing (MBGBI Vol 4 part 1). Larva mines leaves of Broad-leaved Willowherb, over-wintering as a small larva.

Update: Status review, December 2019.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 9 — 13 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 19 May (2002) — 28 Jun (2013)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Epilobium montanum (Broad-leaved Willowherb), Epilobium sp. (a willowherb).

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Nationally Scarce B

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 2 — Care needed to identify, an image may be required 🤔
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/mompha-lacteella/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 5

Individuals: 0

Earliest Year: 2002

Latest Year: 2018

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