Mompha murtfeldtella

Members of the genus Mompha are leaf, floral, and fruit miners specializing in plants from the Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae) and the Loosestrife Family (Lythraceae). Mompha murtfeldtella feeds on Oenothera spp.
http://www.microleps.org/Guide/Momphidae/index.html

comments (6)

Christine Young

Lion

The scientific name is so unique, yet silly. Posted 6 years ago
1. Gary B
  
  Lion
  
  Probably in honor of someone named Murt Feldtella. Posted 6 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    That is very common sensical. Here I was wondering what on Earth is a "murtfeldtella". ;P Posted 6 years ago
  2. 1. Gary B
      
      Lion
      
      I looked up "murtfeldt" and it is a surname. The "ella" is Latin and used to make the noun feminine. Don't know about "Mompha" yet. Oddly, an obsolete name for this species is Laverna grissella (Roman goddess of thieves, cheats and the underworld plus a German word for gray battle). Posted 6 years ago
    2. 1. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        I love weird scientific names and discovering their origins. Fascinating, amusing, and often stuff. Have you seen Ferdy's list?
        
        Epic species names
        Posted 6 years ago
      2. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Added :) Posted 6 years ago

The Mompha murtfeldtella

''Mompha murtfeldtella'' is a moth in the Momphidae family. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Alabama,
California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

The wingspan is about 10 millimetres . Adults are similar to ''Mompha circumscriptella'', but the white patch on the posterior margin of the basal half of the forewing is much less extensive.. more

Info 1 0

Similar species: Moths And Butterflies

Species identified by Gary B