Mompha epilobiella

Alternative names
Buff Mompha
Common Cosmet
Common Mompha
Description

Wingspan 10 to 13 mm. This small micro moth is buffish in colour sometimes suffused slightly with chestnut or darker brown shades and with two pairs of dark scale tufts.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Around plants of the Willowherb family.

When to see it

The adult hibernates and can be found throughout the year, most commonly in July and August, often being attracted to light.

Life History

Like many of its relatives, the larvae feed on various Willowherbs, forming spinnings amongst their shoots.

UK Status

Found throughout most of England and Wales and can be frequent where the foodplant occurs. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

VC55 Status

It appears to be uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, where there are few records. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).

Reference
40.010 BF893

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

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Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Common Cosmet
Species group:
Moths
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Momphidae
Records on NatureSpot:
63
First record:
13/05/2004 (Skevington, Mark)
Last record:
09/09/2024 (Higgott, Mike)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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