Metzneria aestivella

Metzneria aestivella is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. 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.

Metzneria aestivella
Metzneria aestivella dichroa
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
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 dichroa Walsingham, [1908]

The wingspan is 11–15 mm. The terminal joint of palpi slender, 2/3 of second. Forewings pale are ochreous, more or less wholly suffused with reddish-ochreous ; margins and veins partly marked with fuscous lines. Hindwings are grey. The larva is whitish ; head and plate of 2 blackish.[2] Adults are similar to Metzneria lappella and Metzneria metzneriella but lack the black discal spot on the forewing.[3] 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.[4]