Metzneria lappella

Metzneria lappella, the burdock seedhead moth or burdock seed moth, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae.

Metzneria lappella
Side view
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Gelechiidae
Genus:
Metzneria
Species:
M. lappella
Binomial name
Metzneria lappella
Synonyms
  • Phalaena (Tinea) lappella Linnaeus, 1758
  • Gelechia lappella Linnaeus, 1758
  • Phalaena lappella

Distribution

This species is present in most of Europe[2] and it is widely distributed throughout the Palaearctic region, northwards to the Arctic Circle. It is an introduced species in North America,[3] where it is found from Maine and Quebec to Florida, west to Ontario and Missouri.

Habitat

These moths mainly inhabit fields, roadsides and waste places.[4]

Description

Metzneria lappella has a wingspan of 13–19 mm.[5] The forewings are yellow with dull brown streaks. There is no definite pattern, but the brown colour is heaviest along the costa near the middle.[6]

Larva

Biology

Adults are on wing in June and July in the north of North America and from April to August in the south. In England they fly in June and July. There is one generation per year (univoltine species). The larvae feed on the developing seeds of Arctium species, including Arctium lappa and Arctium minus.[7]

The larvae have a translucent-whitish body and a brown-ochre head. Larvae can be found in late summer, fall, and spring. The species overwinters in the larval stage. Pupation takes place in the seedhead.

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References
  1. Fauna Europaea
  2. Distribution of Metzneria lappella in Fauna Europaea
  3. 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
  4. McLeod, Robin (October 12, 2016). "Species Metzneria lappella - Burdock Seedhead Moth - Hodges#1685". BugGuide. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  5. Microlepidoptera.nl (in Dutch)
  6. Lotts, Kelly & Naberhaus, Thomas (2017). "Burdock Seedhead Moth Metzneria lappella (Linnaeus, 1758)". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  7. Kimber, Ian. "35.056 BF724 Metzneria lappella (Linnaeus, 1758)". UKMoths. Retrieved 5 August 2020.


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