Species Details

ABH: 35.058

BF: 726

Family: Gelechiidae

Subfamily: Anomologinae

Taxon: Metzneria metzneriella

Authority: (Stainton, 1851)

Vernacular: Knapweed Seedhead Moth

Account: Common on grassland, downland, waste ground and roadside verges throughout the British Isles, north to Inverness-shire The main confusion species is M. lappella, which differs in the much lighter general appearance, especially in the apical and terminal areas. Larva feeds within seedheads of Common Knapweed and Saw-wort, over-wintering in a cocoon.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 14 — 19 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 20 May (2011) — 29 Jun (2013)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Centaurea nigra (Common Knapweed), Serratula tinctoria (Saw-wort).

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Common

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 2 — Care needed to identify, an image may be required 🤔
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/metzneria-metzneriella/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 28

Individuals: 3

Earliest Year: 2000

Latest Year: 2024

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