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 | |
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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
- Metzneria aestivella aestivella
- Metzneria aestivella dichroa Walsingham, 1908 (Canary Islands)