Photo © Keith Tailby

Metzneria aprilella

Checklist Number
35.059 [B&F: 0727a]

Verification
Record will normally be accepted but photo evidence may be required - check with CMR if not sure of identity

Classification

Family:Gelechiidae
Subfamily:Anomologinae
Genus:Metzneria
Species:aprilella
Authority:(Herrich-Schäffer, 1854)

Nationally scarce (Nb) on grassland, mainly calcareous, and waste ground throughout south-eastern England. In Hampshire the species' stronghold is on Portsdown Hill, with a small population around Leckford. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 15-18 mm. Has been confused with M. neuropterella in the past, but is generally smaller, with forewing suffused orange-vermilion, a colour not found in that species, and lacks the pale area containing a stigma at the distal end of the cell (MBGBI Vol 4 part 2). Larva feeds within seedheads of Greater Knapweed, over-wintering in a silken chamber.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

VC8 Wiltshire (Hants county)

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Martin Down NNR (SU01)27/06/2009oneRichard Coomber, Juliet Bloss et alAdult

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Portsdown (SU60)10/01/1981-J R Langmaid, D H, P H SterlingLarval
Portsdown (SU60)03/04/1989-Richard J Dickson-
Portsdown (SU60)04/03/1990-J R Langmaid, R J HeckfordLarval
Sparsholt (SU43)1992oneTony DobsonAdult
Portsdown (SU60)29/01/1997-J R Langmaid, I R ThirlwellLarval
Winchester (SU43)18/07/2002oneJohn CloyneAdult
West Meon (SU62)29/05/2014oneRichard J DicksonAdult
West Meon (SU62)24/06/2014fourMaurice OpieAdult

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Chilbolton (SU43)28/12/1980-J R Langmaid, D H, P H, M J SterlingLarval
Leckford Estate (SU33)15/07/2002oneJ R Langmaid, B ElliottAdult
Cholderton (SU24)27/06/2009oneMike Wall & Tim NorrissAdult
Old Burghclere (SU45)09/07/2010oneGraham DennisAdult
Weston Colley (SU53)26/06/2012oneDavid G GreenAdult
Old Burghclere (SU45)26/06/2013oneGraham DennisAdult
Magdalen Hill Down (SU52)21/07/2015oneJamie AlisonAdult
Monxton (SU34)10/06/201615Tim Norriss, Lynn Fomison, Monica JohnsonAdult