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Species Metzneria paucipunctella - Hodges#1686

Is this the Knapweed seed head moth? - Metzneria paucipunctella Gelechioidea???? - Metzneria paucipunctella Gelechiidae: Metzneria paucipunctella - Metzneria paucipunctella Gelechiidae: Metzneria paucipunctella - Metzneria paucipunctella
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Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Gelechioidea (Twirler Moths and kin)
Family Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
Subfamily Anomologinae
Genus Metzneria
Species paucipunctella (Metzneria paucipunctella - Hodges#1686)
Hodges Number
1686
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Metzneria paucipunctella Zeller, 1839
Numbers
The genus Metzneria includes two named species in America north of Mexico.
Size
The forewing length averages 6-8 mm.
Wingspan 15 mm.
Range
Introduced in the 1980's as a biological control agent for Centaurea (knapweed) in the western United States. (1)
Established in Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and western Canada.
Released in Nebraska but is not considered established (2013).
Metzneria paucipunctella is a native of Europe.
Season
The adults are most common from May to July.
Food
Centaurea maculosa
C. diffusa
Life Cycle
The larvae of the genus Metzneria feed in the seedheads of the host plant, and are known to have one generation per year.
Print References
Coulson, J.R., 1982. Releases of beneficial organisms in the United States and territories. United States Department of Agriculture, Miscellaneous Publication, no. 1505: 295, 330, 342, 400.
Meyrick, E., 1925. Lepidoptera Heterocera Fam. Gelechiidae. Genera Insectorum, Fascicules 184: 29.
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group (2)
Barcode of Life (BOLD)
Cornell University.
Province of British Columbia.
Works Cited
1.Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States
Eric M. Coombs, Janet K. Clark, Gary L. Piper, Alfred F. Cofrancesco, Jr. 2004. Oregon State University Press, 1-467.
2.North American Moth Photographers Group
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman on 11 August, 2013 - 1:47am
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Kyhl Austin, Steve Morris
Last updated 11 February, 2023 - 8:12pm

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