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 –
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines 
– Generally Common / Widespread
– 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.
*** Last updated on 29 March 2026 by RP ***
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©
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)
This chart summarises all available historical occurrence records collated by ISO week of the year. It reflects recorder effort and sampling distribution as well as true biological activity, and should be interpreted as an indicative pattern of seasonal occurrence rather than a statistically controlled abundance or phenology model.
Distribution Map for Metzneria metzneriella
Found 45 records
↳ 1 from 2026+
↳ 13 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 31 from Before 2020
↳ 1 from 2026+
↳ 13 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 31 from Before 2020
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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.
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
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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
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 Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hall Lane Pond | SK47H | 25/01/2026 | 3 | larva | Radford, Mark | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC48821239 |
| Harry's Wood, Smisby | SK32K | 13/10/2025 | 1 | Larva | Finch, Graham Leonard | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC50351979 |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 13/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42555618 |
| Chaddesden, Derby | SK33T | 13/06/2025 | 1 | adult | roome, martin | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43261607 |
| sheffield | SK38M | 13/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Turner, Jan | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42503154 |
| Ashford Marble Mill | SK16Z | 25/07/2024 | 1 | adult | Steven Bell | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40548717 |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 12/06/2023 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33153539 |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 11/06/2023 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35076207 |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 30/06/2022 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35089735 |
| Ferneydale Avenue | SK07Q | 16/06/2022 | 1 | adult | Wakefield, Rowan | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34940194 |
| Ferneydale Avenue | SK07Q | 26/06/2021 | 1 | adult | Wakefield, Rowan | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43077867 |
| Ferneydale Avenue | SK07Q | 13/06/2021 | 1 | adult | Wakefield, Rowan | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43076773 |
| Allestree, Derby | SK33P | 21/06/2020 | 1 | adult | Plant, Stephen | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC46345734 |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 15/06/2020 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35095179 |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 06/07/2016 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41044633 |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 06/07/2016 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41051855 |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 10/07/2015 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC48963710 |
| Smalley Green, Heanor | SK44B | 27/06/2014 | 3 | Adult | BUDWORTH, Mr D., CLARKE, Mr D.A., PATRICK, Mr P., | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP0G2 |
| Backgarden Marehay | SK34Z | 21/06/2014 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33506647 |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 15/06/2014 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33153538 |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 13/06/2014 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41012846 |
| Bamford St,Ripley | SK34Z | 16/07/2012 | 1 | Adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COY75 |
| Backgarden Marehay | SK34Z | 05/07/2012 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33510558 |
| Bamford St,Ripley | SK34Z | 05/07/2012 | 1 | Adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP7WI |
| Backgarden Marehay | SK34Z | 27/06/2012 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33510436 |
| Bamford St,Ripley | SK34Z | 27/06/2012 | 1 | Adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP7V8 |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 15/06/2011 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33149795 |
| Raven's Tor (scrub/grassland), Wirksworth | SK25X | 31/05/2011 | 1 | Adult | K.R. Huston | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP6WS |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 28/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COTGT |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 28/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP66U |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 07/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34678807 |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 06/07/2010 | 10 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COTA6 |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 06/07/2010 | 19 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COTAS |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 06/07/2010 | 6 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COTB0 |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 06/07/2010 | 50 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP5RU |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 06/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | M.J. Dale | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP5SI |
| Rose Av,Clowne | SK57D | 26/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | D. Hursthouse | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP5KG |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 10 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP5CZ |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 9 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP5D3 |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 13 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP5DE |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 3 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP5DM |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 4 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP5DV |
| Stoney Middleton | SK27H | 14/06/2003 | 1 | Adult | P. Hampson | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COZOK |
| Millers Dale (west of Litton Mill), Tideswell | SK17L | 05/07/1997 | 1 | Adult | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COZ1H |
| Cressbrook Dale, Wardlow | SK17R | 20/07/1996 | 1 | Adult | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP1AV |