Status and Distribution
Local in southern England and coastal south Wales. Very local elsewhere, in England as far north os Lincolnshire, in north Wales and south-east Ireland with a few very historic records from Yorkshire. Searches in the coastal dunes of north-west England, where the foodplant is present, sometimes in reasonable quantity, have so far failed to produce the moth.
National Status:
Bradley & Fletcher no:

Provisional Map
Maps updated with all data received by January 2022.
Foodplant and Larval Feeding Signs
Foodplant Map
Finding the Moth
Larva: in the seed-heads from September to April, pupating in May. Collection of seed-heads is the best way to find this species but the larvae can be heavily parasitised.
Adult: infrequently seen during daytime and occasionally comes to light.
Similar Species
Lacks the black spots present on Metzneria lappella and Metzneria metzneriella; smaller and less streaked than M. neuropterella. The third segment of the labial palps is two-thirds the length of the second segment (half length in other Metzneria spp.). Worn moths are likely to require dissection.
Larval Occurrence
Flight Period
Single-brooded in June and July.
Earliest: 1st June 2002 (VC113)
Latest: 26th August 1926 (VC10)