Metzneria aprilella explained

Metzneria aprilella, the brilliant neb, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is widely distributed throughout Europe. Outside of Europe, it is found in Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iran and southern Siberia.[1] The habitat consists of waste ground and grassland.

The wingspan is 13–18 mm. Adults are on wing from May to August.[2]

The larvae feed on Centaurea scabiosa and Centaurea solstitialis. They feed on the seeds from within the seedhead.[3]

Notes and References

  1. et al. 2010: The gelechiid fauna of the southern Ural Mountains, part II: list of recorded species with taxonomic notes (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Zootaxa, 2367: 1–68. Preview
  2. http://www.microlepidoptera.nl/soorten/species.php?speciescode=330050&p=1 Microlepidoptera.nl
  3. https://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=727a UKMoths