Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

16 June 2004   10:49PM EST  (left and right)
Both photos are of the same specimen.

Metzneria lappella is light yellowish tan in color, somewhat variably streaked with yellowish brown.  Although Covell (1984) suggests there is no definite pattern to the streaking, the specimens I have photographed exhibit some common characteristics.  There is usually a somewhat diffuse yellow-brown dot with a darker center about one-third of the way along the wing at approximately the middle.  The most heavily streaked area is along the inner three-quarters of the costa, skimming the edge of the previously mentioned dot, and reaching almost to the inner margin a short distance above the anal angle.  In the pale subterminal area a band of short yellow-brown lengthwise streaks forms a line from a point near the apex, reaching almost to the inner margin.  The terminal line is usually evident as a row of diffuse brownish dots.  The fringe is light yellowish tan.  Covell indicates a wingspan from 1.2 to 1.9 cm for this species.

According to Covell (1984), the host plant for Metzneria lappella is burdock, and the moth was introduced to North America from Europe or Asia.

My records to date for Metzneria lappella (each date representing "the night of") are in the table below: