([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
- Subfamily: Tineinae
- Wingspan: 12-18 mm
- Flight period: May - Oct
- Spread: Common
- Host plants: Animal and plant remains
The Monopis obviella is a moth of the Tineidae family with a wingspan of 12-18 mm.
In Europe we find it practically everywhere, it is absent from Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia
In Italy it is absent from the islands. *
The front wings of the Monopis obviella are blackish with the edge near the anal vein of orange color, some sparse splashes of the same color are present along the leading edge and a central spot on the costal area.
The hind wings are fringed, gray / brown in color, with small black spots. The head is blackish in color, with an orange tuft of hair. The thorax is blackish with an orange central band, the abdomen is brown. **
Easily confused with its congener Monopis crocicapitella , it was separated from the present species in 1859, and is still frequently confused with it even by rather recent sources. ***
They are visible from June to October (depending on the position), it is thought in two generations, they are mainly nocturnal moths, but not infrequently they can also be encountered during the day or be, from time to time, attracted to artificial light.
The larvae build resistant cases with silky threads and other materials such as wool. ****
The larvae feed on dry animal and plant waste.
They have been recorded in the wad of birds of prey (regurgitation consisting of indigestible food that is eliminated), Animal horns, wool (particularly if left to rot outside) and decaying wood. *****
* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Bestimmungshilfe für die in Europa nachgewiesenen Schmetterlingsarten - http://lepiforum.de/
*** Pitkin & Jenkins (2004), ABRS (2008)
**** Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of Belgium - https://projects.biodiversity.be/lepidoptera/species/4177/
***** Grabe (1942), Robinson