Brilliant Neb, Flame Seedhead Moth
Metzneria aprilella
Metzneria aprilella, the brilliant neb, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is widely distributed throughout Europe.
27
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metzneria_aprilella
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Gelechiidae
Genus
Metzneria
Brilliant Neb, Flame Seedhead Moth belongs to the family Gelechiidae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Metzneria aprilella, the brilliant neb, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is widely distributed throughout Europe. Outside of Europe, it is found in Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iran and southern Siberia. The habitat consists of waste ground and grassland.
The Flame Seedhead Moth faces severe decline primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized chalk grassland environments. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and changes in traditional grazing management have significantly reduced the availability of suitable breeding sites where its host plants occur.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
The Flame Seedhead Moth faces severe decline primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized chalk grassland environments. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and changes in traditional grazing management have significantly reduced the availability of suitable breeding sites where its host plants occur.
Agricultural intensification and conversion
Habitat loss and fragmentation of chalk grasslands
Climate change affecting host plant distribution
Loss of traditional grazing management
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Found in 27 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Brilliant Neb, Flame Seedhead Moth (Metzneria aprilella). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/brilliant-neb-flame-seedhead-moth