Coleophoridae

37.015 Common Case-bearer Coleophora serratella (Linnaeus, 1761)

Common

Similar species: Neither larvae or cases of C.coracipennella, C.prunifoliae, C.serratelaem or C.spinella can be separated from C.serratella.

Forewing: 5 to 6.5mm

Habitats: Deciduous woodland, parkland, scrub, hedgerows and other sites where the foodplants are present.

Habits: The moth is nocturnal and occasionally comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva initially forms a blotch mine, from where it starts it composite pistol shaped case on Alder, birches, Hazel or elms, and occasionally Rowan, Common Whitebeam, Swedish Whitebeam, apple, Goat Willow or Hornbeam and even herbaceous plants under its normal hosts. It overwinters, then feeds in the spring, again making blotch mines. In May it cuts a second case from a leaf margin. The second and final trivalved case, is 6 to 7mm long, m.o. at a 30° angle. It usually pupates on the upperside of a leaf of the foodplant or adjacent plants. On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on a large variety of other shrubs, including Green Alder, Medlar, Bog Myrtle, Hawthorn, Snowy Mespilus and Wych Elm.