Coleophoridae

37.028 Least Case-bearer Coleophora juncicolella Stainton, 1851

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 3 to 4mm

Habitats: Heathland, moorland and occasionally gardens.

Habits: The moth flies in the afternoon.

Foodplant: The larva mines the leaves of Heather and Bell Heather. The small case is gradually built up until there are seven to ten mined heather leaves arranged in a neat herring-bone pattern, well disguised to look like a heather shoot. The larvae can be swept from the foodplants from March to May, but are best separated by placing the swept debris in a box and waiting for the larvae to climb the sides. The full-fed larval case is 4 to 5mm long, m.o. at a 40° angle. It pupates attached to a stem.