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.
The wingspan is 11–15 mm.Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Keys and description Adults are similar to Metzneria lappella and Metzneria metzneriella .UKmothsHeath, J., ed. 1976 The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Vol. 4 Part 2Langmaid, J. R., Palmer, S. M. & Young, M. R. [eds]. 2018 A Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of Great Britain and Ireland [3rd ed.]Reading, Berkshire. British Entomological and Natural History Societylepiforum.de includes images
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.microlepidoptera.nl
Subspecies Metzneria aestivella aestivella Metzneria aestivella dichroa Walsingham, 1908 (Canary Islands)
References