Metzneria lappella       Apodia martinii
35.058 BF726 – Gelechiidae – Anomologinae – Metzneria metzneriella
35.058 BF726  – Knapweed Seedhead Moth  – Metzneria metzneriella  – (Stainton, 1851)
Adult Micro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species –       Leaf-miner:  CAT A – Recorded accepted without the leaf or a photo –       Larval Case:  C1 – Distinctive Species –      
PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Blue –  Generally Common / Widespread   
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Gelechiidae  >> Anomologinae
Other Name/s: Meadow Neb
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  M. lappella, M. metzneriella
ID pointers: Small long & slender in appearance. Yellowish brown with reddish-brown shading along the costa with greyish highlighted veins. A series of blackish dots running in pairs across each forewing.
Distribution:  Appears to be common in the right habitat with many scattered records from across Derbyshire. Possibly under-recorded – 21 records between 1996-2014 (DaNES) and 10 record 2010-2023 (iRecord). Larvae found inside the seed case of Knapweed at Markham Vale, Hall Lane Ponds 25/1/2026.
General Comment: Larvae were found inside the hard structure in the base of the seed casings of Knapweed 25/1/2026 – Markham Vale. Flight Period: June /  July /  August –  On the wing during in June – August. Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Rowan Wakefield; Steve Thorpe  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 26 February 2026 by TD ***
Wingspan: 14-19mm
 Food Plant: Common Knapweed.
Specific Recorded History Dates for Common [Blue code Blue-coded] moths is not displayed/updated in this tab. However, all verified records for this moth are listed in the RECORDS tab below.
Selected Images:  

Buxton, Derbyshire – Rowan Wakefield ©/ Ripley – Steve Thorpe© / Larvae found inside Knapweed seedheads – (Jan 2026) Markham Vale – Mark Radford©

35.058 BF726 – Gelechiidae – Anomologinae – Metzneria metzneriella
Metzneria metzneriella
Metzneria metzneriella - 27th June 2012 - Marehay, Ripley - Steve Thorpe
Metzneria metzneriella – 27th June 2012 – Marehay, Ripley – Steve Thorpe
Metzeneria metzneriella - Larva found inside Knapweed seed-case 25th Jan 2026 - Hall Lane Ponds, Markham Vale - Mark Radford
Metzeneria metzneriella – Larva found inside Knapweed seed-case 25th Jan 2026 – Hall Lane Ponds, Markham Vale – Mark Radford
Metzeneria metzneriella - Larva - on Knapweed Seedhead - 25th Jan 2026 - Hall Lane POnds, Markham Vale - Mark Radford
Metzeneria metzneriella – Larva – on Knapweed Seedhead – 25th Jan 2026 – Hall Lane POnds, Markham Vale – Mark Radford
35.058 BF726 – Gelechiidae – Anomologinae – Metzneria metzneriella
Metzneria metzneriella - 27th June 2012 - Marehay, Ripley - Steve Thorpe
Metzeneria metzneriella - Larva found inside Knapweed seed-case 25th Jan 2026 - Hall Lane Ponds, Markham Vale - Mark Radford
Metzeneria metzneriella - Larva - on Knapweed Seedhead - 25th Jan 2026 - Hall Lane POnds, Markham Vale - Mark Radford

 

Image Gallery

No gallery images found for this moth.


Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1996 - 2025)  |  Immatures: (between 2025 - 2026)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)

Distribution Map for Metzneria metzneriella

Found 45 records
    ↳ 1 from 2026+
    ↳ 13 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 31 from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

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Bedrock Geology ** indirectly affects moth distribution by influencing the type of habitat and food plants available in an area. In turn, this may affect the types of moths that can thrive, or where they can most likely be found.


NBN Atlas UK Distribution for – Metzneria metzneriella

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Note – the NBN Atlas datasets are listed in the map below and vary in their currency (uptodateness) – however, the map does give a general indication of the moth's distribution across the UK.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Metzneria metzneriella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Metzneria metzneriella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )

First/Last Recorded Dates: Metzneria metzneriella
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]

Shading shows moth presence between dates

Click the colour discs below to Select/De-select as Required

Recordings By Year: Metzneria metzneriella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Metzneria metzneriella
AGR: 0%   |   Total % Change: 0%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Metzneria metzneriella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Metzneria metzneriella

Flight Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's flight periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen in flight, from site observation records received between 2020-2026.

Records Behind the Map and Charts - Metzneria metzneriella – 45 records available

Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns

Site NameTetradDateCountStageRecorderSourceRecordKey
Hall Lane PondSK47H25/01/20263larvaRadford, Markvc57_irecords_extractiBRC48821239
Harry's Wood, SmisbySK32K13/10/20251LarvaFinch, Graham Leonardvc57_irecords_extractiBRC50351979
sheffieldSK38M13/06/20251adultTurner, Janvc57_irecords_extractiBRC42503154
Ladycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S13/06/20251adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC42555618
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T13/06/20251adultroome, martinvc57_irecords_extractiBRC43261607
Ashford Marble MillSK16Z25/07/20241adultSteven Bellvc57_irecords_extractiBRC40548717
Buxton SK, UKSK07S12/06/20231AdultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33153539
Ladycroft AveSK07S11/06/20231adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC35076207
Ladycroft AveSK07S30/06/20221adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC35089735
Ferneydale AvenueSK07Q16/06/20221adultWakefield, Rowanvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34940194
Ferneydale AvenueSK07Q26/06/20211adultWakefield, Rowanvc57_irecords_extractiBRC43077867
Ferneydale AvenueSK07Q13/06/20211adultWakefield, Rowanvc57_irecords_extractiBRC43076773
Allestree, DerbySK33P21/06/20201adultPlant, Stephenvc57_irecords_extractiBRC46345734
Ladycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S15/06/20201adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC35095179
Ladycroft AveSK07S06/07/20161adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC41044633
Ladycroft AveSK07S06/07/20161adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC41051855
Ladycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S10/07/20151adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC48963710
Smalley Green, HeanorSK44B27/06/20143AdultBUDWORTH, Mr D., CLARKE, Mr D.A., PATRICK, Mr P., vc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP0G2
Backgarden MarehaySK34Z21/06/20141adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33506647
Buxton SK, UKSK07S15/06/20141AdultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33153538
Ladycroft AveSK07S13/06/20141adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC41012846
Bamford St,RipleySK34Z16/07/20121AdultThorpe, Stevevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COY75
Backgarden MarehaySK34Z05/07/20121adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33510558
Bamford St,RipleySK34Z05/07/20121AdultThorpe, Stevevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP7WI
Backgarden MarehaySK34Z27/06/20121adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33510436
Bamford St,RipleySK34Z27/06/20121AdultThorpe, Stevevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP7V8
Buxton SK, UKSK07S15/06/20111AdultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33149795
Raven's Tor (scrub/grassland), WirksworthSK25X31/05/20111AdultK.R. Hustonvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP6WS
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P28/07/20101AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COTGT
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P28/07/20101AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP66U
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y07/07/20101AdultSoar, Willvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34678807
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P06/07/201010AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COTA6
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P06/07/201019AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COTAS
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P06/07/20106AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COTB0
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P06/07/201050AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP5RU
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P06/07/20101AdultM.J. Dalevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP5SI
Rose Av,ClowneSK57D26/06/20101AdultD. Hursthousevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP5KG
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P12/06/201010AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP5CZ
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P12/06/20109AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP5D3
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P12/06/201013AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP5DE
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P12/06/20103AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP5DM
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P12/06/20104AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP5DV
Stoney MiddletonSK27H14/06/20031AdultP. Hampsonvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COZOK
Millers Dale (west of Litton Mill), TideswellSK17L05/07/19971AdultS.H. Hindvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COZ1H
Cressbrook Dale, WardlowSK17R20/07/19961AdultS.H. Hindvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP1AV

 
Metzneria lappella       Apodia martinii

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