Early stages: Metzneria lappella

Another relatively widespread moth with a commonly occurring food plant whose larvae are easy to find at this time of year - Metzneria lappella.

The often abundant larvae can be found in their winter hibernacula within the seed heads of Greater Burdock.  This hard hibernacula can be felt once the seed head is opened and teasing this apart further will reveal the rather dumpy looking larva.

They are also easy to rear through, just pop a few seed heads in a container and wait...simple.

Burdock seed head, note lack of external signs of 'occupation' Larval hibernaculum made from several seeds Larva within opened hibernaculum Larva extracted from hibernaculum

Of Teasel and Burdock

Each winter I like to collect a bag or two of the seedheads of both Teasel and Greater Burdock in hope of rearing the three species of moth mentioned below.

On Teasel, I check seed heads for the larvae of Endothenia marginana and E. gentianaeana - studying the larvae closely allows me to separate the two: http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=1099.  This way I can be sure of an accurate ID of the adults.  These larvae are often very numerous and not at all difficult to locate.


E. marginana - reared ex teasel seed head (larvae examined)


E. gentianaeana - reared ex teasel seed head (larvae examined)

I also always have a bag or two of Greater Burdock seedheads for rearing Metzneria lappella - I don't bother looking too closely, just harvest a few handfuls and then wait...
M. lappella reared ex burdock seed head

Dave