Metzneria aestivella explained

Metzneria aestivella is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found in most of Europe, except Iceland, Norway, Lithuania, Slovakia and Ukraine. The habitat consists of dry, sunny areas with low-growing herbaceous plants.

The wingspan is 11–15 mm.^[1] Adults are similar to Metzneria lappella and Metzneria metzneriella .^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}

Adults are on wing from June to July.

Larvae can be found in winter and spring in old flowers of Carlina vulgaris, Pyrethrum corymbosum and Carlina acaulis. Full-grown larvae reach a length of 8–9 mm.^[6]

Subspecies

• Metzneria aestivella aestivella
• Metzneria aestivella dichroa Walsingham, 1908 (Canary Islands)

Notes and References

1. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Keys and description
2. https://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=725 UKmoths
3. Heath, J.,ed. 1976 The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Vol. 4 Part 2
4. Langmaid, J. R., Palmer, S. M. & Young, M. R. [eds]. 2018 A Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of Great Britain and Ireland [3rd ed.]Reading, Berkshire. British Entomological and Natural History Society
5. https://lepiforum.org/wiki/page/Metzneria_aestivella lepiforum.de includes images
6. http://www.microlepidoptera.nl/soorten/species.php?speciescode=330020&p=1 microlepidoptera.nl