Burdock seedhead moth

Metzneria lappella

''Metzneria lappella'', the burdock seedhead moth or burdock seed moth, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae.
Metzneria lappella Metzneria lappella Geotagged,Metzneria lappella,Summer,United States

Appearance

''Metzneria lappella'' has a wingspan of 13–19 mm. 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.
Metzneria lappella Metzneria lappella Gelechiidae,Geotagged,Metzneria lappella,Summer,United States,burdock seed moth,burdock seedhead moth

Distribution

This species is present in most of Europe and it is widely distributed throughout the Palaearctic region, northwards to the Polar Circle. It is an introduced species in North America, where it is found from Maine and Quebec to Florida, west to Ontario and Missouri.
Metzneria lappella Metzneria lappella Geotagged,Metzneria lappella,Summer,United States

Behavior

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 . The larvae feed on the developing seeds of ''Arctium'' species, including ''Arctium lappa'' and ''Arctium minus''.

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.

Habitat

These moths mainly inhabit fields, roadsides and waste places.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderLepidoptera
FamilyGelechiidae
GenusMetzneria
SpeciesM. lappella