Mompha ochraceella       Mompha propinquella
40.003 BF887  –  Momphidae – Mompha lacteella – Buff-headed Mompha – (Stephens, 1834) Adult Micro:  CAT 3 – Very Rare/Scarce/Migrant/Adventive – confusion with leaf mines       Leaf-miner:  CAT L – The leaf or a Photo required – reared and possibly dissected       PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Brown –  Significant Record / Very Rare / Vagrant         purple – Leaf Miner
Taxonomy:   Micro  >> .  . >>  Momphidae
Other Name/s: Rust-blotch Mompha
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  Mompha propinquella
ID pointers: As with all the Mompha species they are colourful, attractive and distinctive. They rest low and flat in a horizontal position. Often have scale tufts. Head and thorax pale yellowish brown. Forewing is greyish-brown to blackish-brown, with pale yellowish-brown basal blotch and several orange-brown marks and two large black scale tufts half way along the wing.
Distribution:  (First record: 1927 )  –  (Last record: 6 June 2021 at Buxton )  –  Nationally Scarce B – With two previous records dating back to 1927 and 3 records in June 2021 at Froggatt and Hathersage and a further record from Buxton in 2022 the status of this species remains as rare and notable. Most probably overlooked. Larvae on Broad-leaved Willow-herb.
Flight Period: May /  June /  July /  –  On the wing May – July.  – The larvae mine the leaves of broad-leaved willowherb (Epilobium montanum) Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Bryan Barnacle, The late Claire Miles  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 7 May 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 9-13mm
 Food Plant: Broad-leaved Willowherb (Epilobium montanum).
Last Recorded Year: 2022
First Recorded Year: 1927
Last Recorded By – Steve Orridge
Last Recorded General Area – Buxton
IMAGES BELOW:  Froggatt, Derbyshire – Bryan Barnacle© / Hathersage – The late Claire Miles©

40.003 BF887 - Momphidae - Mompha lacteella
Mompha lacteella – Frogatt – Bryan Barnacle
40.003 BF887 - Momphidae - Mompha lacteella
Mompha lacteella – Frogatt – Bryan Barnacle
Mompha lacteela - 29/6/2021 - Hathersage - The late Claire Miles - Gen Det completed
29/6/2021 – Hathersage – The late Claire Miles – Gen Det completed
40.003 BF887 - Momphidae - Mompha lacteella
40.003 BF887 - Momphidae - Mompha lacteella
Mompha lacteela - 29/6/2021 - Hathersage - The late Claire Miles - Gen Det completed

no images were found

Distribution Map for Mompha lacteella

derbyshiremoths.org © makes no guarantee of accuracy of data used in these maps and charts – they are presented to you with best endeavours and the data behind them updated periodically as time permits. Historic records are being discovered all the time. These will be assessed, so once they are all verified, they will be incorporated onto the map and charts.

Found 5 records
    ↳ 1 from After 2025
    ↳ 4 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 0 from Before 2020

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Bedrock Geology ** indirectly affects moth distribution by influencing the type of habitat and food plants available in an area. In turn, this may affect the types of moths that can thrive, or where they can most likely be found.


Monthly Records By Year: Mompha lacteella

Monthly Counts By Year: Mompha lacteella

Recordings By Year: Mompha lacteella

Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Mompha lacteella
AGR: 0%   |   Total % Change: 0%
Years Analysed: 2000 – 2024

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Mompha lacteella

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Mompha lacteella

Flight Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's flight periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen in flight, from site observation records received between 2020-2025.

Mine Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Mompha lacteella

Mine Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's mine periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen mining, from site observation records received between 2020-2025.

Records Behind the Map and Charts - Mompha lacteella – 5 records available

Listed by Year - descending

TaxonSite NameTetradYearDateCountStage
Mompha lacteellaBuxton (w)SK07R202520/06/20251adult
Mompha lacteellaLadycroft AveSK07S202208/08/20221adult
Mompha lacteellaHathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F202109/06/20211adult
Mompha lacteellaBirchfield, Jaggers Lane, HathersageSK28F20219-Jun-211adult
Mompha lacteellaHathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F202129/06/20211adult

Mompha ochraceella       Mompha propinquella

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