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] [3] [4] [5]} Adults are on wing from June to August.^[6]

The larvae feed on the seeds of Centaurea jacea, Centaurea phrygia and Centaurea scabiosa.^[7] 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. 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_metzneriella lepiforum.de includes images
6. https://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=726 UKmoths
7. http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gelechioidea/gelechiidae/gelechiinae/metzneria/index.html Metzneria at funet