Metzneria metzneriella explained

Metzneria metzneriella is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is widely distributed throughout Europe, as well as Turkey and southern Siberia.[1] The habitat consists of dry pastures and calcareous soils.

The wingspan is 14–19 mm. Terminal joint of palpi thick, half second. Forewings are pale yellow-ochreous, towards costa reddish-ochreous; margins and veins more or less suffused with grey, sprinkled with dark fuscous; stigmata black, first discal much beyond plical. Hindwings are grey. The larva is yellow-whitish; head and plate of 2 dark fuscous.[2] Adults are on wing from June to August.[3]

The larvae feed on the seeds of Centaurea jacea, Centaurea phrygia and Centaurea scabiosa.[4] The species overwinters within the seedhead. Pupation takes place in late spring.

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. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Keys and description
  3. https://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=726 UKmoths
  4. http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gelechioidea/gelechiidae/gelechiinae/metzneria/index.html Metzneria at funet