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 (Linnaeus, 1758)[1]
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][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]