Brown-veined Neb
Metzneria neuropterella
Metzneria neuropterella, the brown-veined neb, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found from most of Europe to the southern Ural Mountains, the Caucasus, southern and south-eastern Siberia and Mongolia, as well as in North Africa.
23
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metzneria_neuropterella
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Gelechiidae
Genus
Metzneria
Brown-veined Neb belongs to the family Gelechiidae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Metzneria neuropterella, the brown-veined neb, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found from most of Europe to the southern Ural Mountains, the Caucasus, southern and south-eastern Siberia and Mongolia, as well as in North Africa. The habitat consist of short-turfed, herb rich chalk downland.
The Brown-veined Neb faces significant threats from habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural intensification and urban development across its European range. Climate change poses additional risks by altering the distribution and phenology of its host plants, while pesticide use in agricultural areas directly impacts both the species and its food sources.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits dry grasslands, chalk downs, coastal dunes, and scrubland areas where its host plants in the Caryophyllaceae family grow. The species is particularly associated with areas containing sea campion and bladder campion at elevations from sea level to moderate upland sites.
Threats
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Urban development and land conversion
Climate change altering host plant availability
Fragmentation of suitable habitat patches
Pesticide use affecting host plants and larvae
Found in 23 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). Brown-veined Neb (Metzneria neuropterella). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/brown-veined-neb