Photo © Dave Shenton
Metzneria aestivella
Checklist Number35.055 [B&F: 0725]
Verification
Record requires retention of specimen until confirmed, and may require dissection. Consult with CMR if unsure
Classification
| Family: | Gelechiidae |
| Subfamily: | Anomologinae |
| Genus: | Metzneria |
| Species: | aestivella |
| Authority: | (Zeller, 1839) |
Nationally scarce (Nb) in open calcareous grassland throughout much of southern and eastern England and northern Wales; rare in Scotland and Ireland. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight most frequently recorded at Portsdown and on the southern coast of the Island; old records from 1996 at Broughton Down and at Magdalen Hill Down, the only records to date from the north of the county. Wingspan 13-16 mm. Larva feeds within seedheads of Carline Thistle, 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)
VC10 Isle of Wight
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totland (SZ38) | 1900 | - | K G Blair | Larval |
| Sandown (SZ58) | 1900 | - | W Fassnidge | Adult |
| Freshwater (SZ38) | 1900 | - | K G Blair | Larval |
| Ventnor (SZ57) | 1926 | - | E G R Waters | Adult |
| Freshwater (SZ38) | 1926 | - | E G R Waters | Adult |
| Culver Cliff (SZ68) | 01/06/1932 | - | Anon | Adult |
| Brading (SZ68) | 01/06/1932 | - | Anon | Adult |
| Totland (SZ38) | 06/08/1934 | - | L T Ford | Adult |
| Bembridge & Culver Downs (SZ68) | 1974 | - | Barry Goater | - |
| Luccombe (SZ57) | 20/09/1977 | - | AMEmmet, EC Pelham-Clinton, Dr JD Bradley, RWJ Uffen | Larval |
| Brighstone Down (SZ48) | 22/09/1977 | - | AMEmmet, EC Pelham-Clinton, Dr JD Bradley, RWJ Uffen | Larval |
| Alum Bay (SZ38) | 15/05/1983 | - | J R Langmaid, P H Sterling | Pupal |
| Compton Down (SZ38) | 15/05/1983 | - | J R Langmaid, P H Sterling | Pupal |
| Broad Lane Lime Quarry, nr Shalcombe, IoW (SZ38) | 03/07/2014 | one | Tim Norriss, Lynn Fomison & Dave Cooke | Adult |
| Totland (SZ38) | 22/07/2014 | one | Sam Knill-Jones | Adult |
| Tennyson Down (SZ38) | 25/06/2015 | one | Julian Clarke | Adult |
| The Needles (SZ28) | 10/07/2015 | one | Stephen Plummer | Adult |
| Main Bench, High Down (SZ38) | 14/07/2015 | two | Phil Barden | Adult |
| Totland (SZ38) | 15/07/2015 | one | Sam Knill-Jones | Adult |
| Rew Down, Ventnor (SZ57) | 01/07/2018 | one | Phil Barden | Adult |
| Bonchurch (SZ57) | 03/07/2018 | three | Phil Barden | Adult |
| Bonchurch (SZ57) | 06/07/2019 | one | Phil Barden | Adult |
| Bonchurch (SZ57) | 10/07/2019 | two | Phil Barden | Adult |
| Totland (SZ38) | 01/07/2022 | one | Rachel Terry | Adult |
VC11 South Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsdown (SU60) | 03/04/1980 | - | J R Langmaid | Larval |
| Portsdown (SU60) | 10/01/1981 | - | J R Langmaid, D H, P H Sterling | Larval |
| Southsea (SZ69) | 05/07/1989 | one | J R Langmaid | Adult |
| Broughton Down (SU23) | 1996 | - | Norman Binsted | Adult |
| Portsdown (SU60) | 29/01/1997 | - | J R Langmaid, I R Thirlwell | Larval |
| Portsdown (SU60) | 29/04/1997 | - | J R Langmaid, I R Thirlwell | Larval |
| Portsdown (SU60) | 06/10/1999 | one | J R Langmaid, I R Thirlwell | Larval |
| Portsdown (SU60) | 11/10/1999 | one | J R Langmaid, I R Thirlwell | Larval |
| Portsdown (SU60) | 02/03/2002 | one | J R Langmaid, R J Heckford, P H Sterling | Larval |
| Portsdown Hill (SU60) | 06/04/2012 | - | Tony Davis | Larval feeding signs |
| Portsdown (SU60) | 15/10/2013 | - | J R Langmaid, S M Palmer | Larval |
| Portsmouth (SU60) | 01/07/2015 | one | Ian Thirlwell | Adult |
VC12 North Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magdalen Hill Down NR (SU52) | 03/08/1996 | one | Phil Budd | Adult |
