Large Dark Cosmet

Mompha conturbatella has a wingspan of 11–17 mm. Forewings of these moths show stains of various color, ranging from brown to black, bluish, russet and white. On the dorsum are present several raised tufts of scales. The head is dark fuscous, face whitish. Forewings dark fuscous, with several small scattered dull orange-ferruginous spots; an obscure whitish spot on base of dorsum; an oblique fascia before middle, a sometimes incomplete fascia in middle, a spot in disc posteriorly, another beyond tornus, and apical dot bluish-leaden-metallic; three black scale-tufts towards dorsum, and three less marked above them; a small white tornal spot, and large white costal spot beyond it. Hindwings rather dark fuscous. Larva blackish: in spun shoots of Epilobium anqustifolium. Similar are Mompha lacteella and Mompha propinquella differing in colouration and with genitalic differences.

This species has a Holarctic distribution. In the Palearctic, it is found from Europe through the Caucasus and central Asia to the Russian Far East. The species is also common in North America. These moths mainly occur in mountains, woodland, hedge rows and marshy areas.