Nematopogon metaxella explained

Nematopogon metaxella is a moth of the Adelidae family. It is found in most of Europe.

The wingspan is 15–17 mm. The head is ochreous-orange, the face whitish. The forewings shorter and broader, shining ochreous, indistinctly brownish strigulated with a brownish discal mark beyond middle. The hindwings are fuscous ; cilia light grey, suffused basally with ochreous.^[1] To certainly determine the species of the genus Nematopogon dissection and study of the genitalia is necessary.^{[2] [3] [4]}

Adults are on wing from June to July.They fly in the afternoon and at dusk. The habitat is alluvial forest and high moorland forest.

The larvae feed in a case among detritus and leaf-litter on the ground.

External links

• Bestimmungshilfe für die in Europa nachgewiesenen Schmetterlingsarten
• UKmoths
• Fauna Europaea
• Images representing Nematopogon metaxella at Consortium for the Barcode of Life

Notes and References

1. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Keys and description
2. Langmaid, J. R., Palmer, S. M. & Young, M. R. [eds]. 2018 A Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of Great Britain and Ireland [3rd ed.]Reading, Berkshire. British Entomological and Natural History Society
3. https://lepiforum.org/wiki/page/Nematopogon_metaxella lepiforum.de includes images
4. Sterling, P. and Parsons,M. 2012 Field Guide to the Micro Moths of Great Britain and Ireland Dorset British Wildlife Publishing, 2012ISBN 10: 0956490212 / ISBN 13: 9780956490216 - 2nd edition (Bloomsbury Wildlife Guides)