Metzneria aprilella | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Gelechiidae |
Genus: | Metzneria |
Species: | M. aprilella
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Binomial name | |
Metzneria aprilella (
Herrich-Schäffer, 1854)
[1]
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Synonyms | |
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Metzneria aprilella, the brilliant neb, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is widely distributed throughout Europe. Outside of Europe, it is found in Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iran and southern Siberia. [2] The habitat consists of waste ground and grassland.
The wingspan is 13–18 mm. Adults are on wing from May to August. [3]
The larvae feed on Centaurea scabiosa and Centaurea solstitialis. They feed on the seeds from within the seedhead. [4] The species overwinters in the larval stage within a silken chamber.