Metzneria aestivella

Metzneria aestivella
Metzneria aestivella dichroa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Gelechiidae
Genus: Metzneria
Species: M. aestivella
Binomial name
Metzneria aestivella
(Zeller, 1839)[1]
Synonyms
  • Gelechia aestivella Zeller, 1839
  • Gelechia carlinella Stainton, 1851
  • Metzneria carlinella
  • Gelechia selaginella Mann, 1855
  • Parasia torridella Mann, 1859

Metzneria aestivella is a moth of the Gelechiidae family. 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. Adults are similar to Metzneria lappella and Metzneria metzneriella but lack the black discal spot on the forewing.[2] 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. They have a cream-coloured body. The colour of the head varies from dark-brown to red-brown. Pupation takes place in mid-May, usually outside of the flower seeds.[3]

Subspecies

References