Photo © Dave Shenton

Metzneria aestivella

Checklist Number
35.055 [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
Sandown (SZ58)1900-W FassnidgeAdult
Totland (SZ38)1900-K G BlairLarval
Freshwater (SZ38)1900-K G BlairLarval
Freshwater (SZ38)1926-E G R WatersAdult
Ventnor (SZ57)1926-E G R WatersAdult
Culver Cliff (SZ68)01/06/1932-AnonAdult
Brading (SZ68)01/06/1932-AnonAdult
Totland (SZ38)06/08/1934-L T FordAdult
Bembridge & Culver Downs (SZ68)1974-Barry Goater-
Luccombe (SZ57)20/09/1977-AMEmmet, EC Pelham-Clinton, Dr JD Bradley, RWJ UffenLarval
Brighstone Down (SZ48)22/09/1977-AMEmmet, EC Pelham-Clinton, Dr JD Bradley, RWJ UffenLarval
Alum Bay (SZ38)15/05/1983-J R Langmaid, P H SterlingPupal
Compton Down (SZ38)15/05/1983-J R Langmaid, P H SterlingPupal
Broad Lane Lime Quarry, nr Shalcombe, IoW (SZ38)03/07/2014oneTim Norriss, Lynn Fomison & Dave CookeAdult
Totland (SZ38)22/07/2014oneSam Knill-JonesAdult
Tennyson Down (SZ38)25/06/2015oneJulian ClarkeAdult
The Needles (SZ28)10/07/2015oneStephen PlummerAdult
Main Bench, High Down (SZ38)14/07/2015twoPhil BardenAdult
Totland (SZ38)15/07/2015oneSam Knill-JonesAdult
Rew Down, Ventnor (SZ57)01/07/2018onePhil BardenAdult
Bonchurch (SZ57)03/07/2018threePhil BardenAdult
Bonchurch (SZ57)06/07/2019onePhil BardenAdult
Bonchurch (SZ57)10/07/2019twoPhil BardenAdult
Totland (SZ38)01/07/2022oneRachel TerryAdult

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Portsdown (SU60)03/04/1980-John R LangmaidLarval
Portsdown (SU60)10/01/1981-J R Langmaid, D H, P H SterlingLarval
Southsea (SZ69)05/07/1989oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Broughton Down (SU23)1996-Norman BinstedAdult
Portsdown (SU60)29/01/1997-J R Langmaid, I R ThirlwellLarval
Portsdown (SU60)29/01/1997-J R Langmaid, I R ThirlwellLarval
Portsdown (SU60)29/01/1997-J R Langmaid, I R ThirlwellLarval
Portsdown (SU60)29/04/1997-J R Langmaid, I R ThirlwellLarval
Portsdown (SU60)06/10/1999oneJ R Langmaid, I R ThirlwellLarval
Portsdown (SU60)11/10/1999oneJ R Langmaid, I R ThirlwellLarval
Portsdown (SU60)02/03/2002oneJ R Langmaid, R J Heckford, P H SterlingLarval
Portsdown Hill (SU60)06/04/2012-Tony DavisLarval feeding signs
Portsdown (SU60)15/10/2013-J R Langmaid, S M PalmerLarval
Portsmouth (SU60)01/07/2015oneIan ThirlwellAdult

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Magdalen Hill Down NR (SU52)03/08/1996onePhil BuddAdult