Gelechiidae Metzneria lappella Burdock Seedhead Moth 10 9 8 n=1 • 7 High Mt. 6 N 5 • u 4 3 m 2 • b 1 e 0 r 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 NC counties: 3 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec o 10 f 9 n=2 = Sighting or Collection 8 • 7 Low Mt. High counts of: in NC since 2001 F 6 l 5 3 - Avery - 2015-06-18 = Not seen since 2001 4 • i 3 1 - Ashe - 2019-06-30 g 2 Status Rank h 1 1 - Buncombe - 2018-07-18 0 NC US NC Global t 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 D Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec a 10 10 9 9 t 8 n=0 8 n=0 e 7 Pd 7 CP s 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Three periods to each month: 1-10 / 11-20 / 21-31 FAMILY: Gelechiidae SUBFAMILY: Gelechiinae TRIBE: Anomologini TAXONOMIC_COMMENTS: <i>Metzneria</i> is an Old World genus with 48 species that are found mostly in Eurasia and Africa. <i>Metzneria lappella</i> was introduced in the US sometime before the late 1800's. FIELD GUIDE DESCRIPTIONS: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012) ONLINE PHOTOS: TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ADULTS: Powell and Opler (2009) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, IMMATURE STAGES: Forbes (1923) ID COMMENTS: The head and thorax are tan and concolorous with the forewing ground color. The long, recurved labial palp is light brown and terminates above the thorax. The antenna is tan with darker annulations, and is about three-fifths as long as the wing length. The forewing is narrow and apically acute. It has longitudinal and oblique brownish streaks that are rather poorly defined, and that tend to be more prevalent on the costal half. The costal margin is often darker along the basal third. A dark brown dot is present at about two-fifths, and a second at about two-thirds. These may be masked by dark shading in fresh specimens, and worn in older specimens. Specimens often have heavy dark shading in the subterminal area. The cilia are yellowish brown to grayish, with a dark line near the middle. The hindwing is dark fuscous gray and has a wavy margin. DISTRIBUTION: This species is native to Europe and was introduced along with its burdock hosts to North America. Populations are now found throughout the eastern US and southern Canada in the East, and in southern Canada, the coastal states, and Colorado in the West. As of 2021, our records are all from the Blue Ridge Mountains from both lower and higher elevation sites. FLIGHT COMMENT: Populations are univoltine. The adults are on the wing from June through August, with a strong seasonal peak in July. As of 2021, our records are from mid-June through mid-July. HABITAT: The host plants tend to be weedy in nature, and can be found in a variety of open, sunny sites. Burdocks are commonly found in farm lots, agricultural fields, pastures, roadsides, and similar habitats. FOOD: The two known host in North America are Greater Burdock (<i>Arctium lappa</i>) and Lesser Burdock (<i>A. minus</ i>). OBSERVATION_METHODS: The adult are attracted to lights. Larvae can be found by breaking open seed heads in the winter or spring. NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: GNR SNA STATE PROTECTION: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands. COMMENTS: Both this species and its host plants are Introduced from Eurasia. Consequently, it has no conservation significance in North Carolina. March 2021 The Moths of North Carolina - Early Draft 1.