Metzneria

Zeller, 1839

Species Guides

2

Metzneria is a of small in the Gelechiidae, established by Zeller in 1839. The genus contains approximately 40 described , predominantly distributed in the Palearctic region, with at least one species introduced to North America for purposes. Most species are specialized seed-feeders associated with plants in the tribe Cynareae (Asteraceae), particularly the genus Centaurea.

Metzneria paucipunctella 0886052 by Robert D. Richard, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org. Used under a CC BY 3.0 us license.Metzneria ?paucipunctella - Spotted knapweed seed moth (39095541740) by Ilia Ustyantsev from Russia. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.Metzneria paucipunctella 0021045 by USDA ARS Archive, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org. Used under a CC BY 3.0 us license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Metzneria: /mɛtˈzner.i.ə/

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Distribution

Primarily Palearctic; recorded from Europe, Asia (including Turkey, Central Asia), and North Africa. At least one (M. paucipunctella) has been introduced to North America (Pacific Northwest, Montana). Additional records include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Vermont (USA).

Diet

Larvae are seed-feeders. M. paucipunctella larvae have been observed destroying an average of 8.13 knapweed seeds per individual, with feeding occurring both prior to seed (early September) and in the following spring.

Host Associations

  • Centaurea maculosa - plantspotted knapweed; of M. paucipunctella
  • Centaurea stapfiana - plant of M. subflavella
  • Arctium - plantburdock; of M. lappella (burdock seedhead )

Behavior

Larvae of M. paucipunctella tie seeds together with silk webbing (average 7.0 seeds per larva), enabling extended feeding after normal seed . This causes significant mortality to co-occurring Urophora fly larvae, particularly during spring months (67% mortality to U. affinis in May).

Ecological Role

Seed in Asteraceae seed . M. paucipunctella contributes to consumer pressure on spotted knapweed and competes with or preys upon other biocontrol agents (Urophora spp.) in shared seed heads.

Human Relevance

Evaluated and employed as agent against knapweeds (Centaurea spp.) in North America. M. paucipunctella was introduced to the Pacific Northwest for spotted knapweed control and has established .

Sources and further reading