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Metzneria metzneriella

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Metzneria metzneriella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Gelechiidae
Genus: Metzneria
Species:
M. metzneriella
Binomial name
Metzneria metzneriella
(Stainton, 1851)[1]
Synonyms
  • Gelechia metzneriella Stainton, 1851
  • Cleodora ochroleucella Stephens, 1834
  • Parasia falcatella Bruand, 1859

Metzneria metzneriella is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is widely distributed throughout Europe, as well as Turkey and southern Siberia.[2] 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.[3]

Adults are on wing from June to August.[4]

The larvae feed on the seeds of Centaurea jacea, Centaurea phrygia and Centaurea scabiosa.[5] The species overwinters within the seedhead. Pupation takes place in late spring.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Fauna Europaea
  2. ^ Junnilainen, J. 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
  3. ^ Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description
  4. ^ UKmoths
  5. ^ Metzneria at funet Archived 2013-10-04 at the Wayback Machine