Coleophoridae

37.030 Alder Case-bearer Coleophora binderella (Kollar, 1832)

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 4 to 5.5mm

Habitats: Deciduous woodland and heathland.

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva mines the leaves of Alder, Grey Alder or Italian Alder and sometimes, birch, Hazel or Hornbeam. The first summers case is made of two pieces of full-depth leaf mine, the older piece has gone grey by the time the second piece is rather untidily attached, giving it a two-tone effect before the full-fed larva goes into hibernation in September or October. In April feeding recommences and unlike Coleophora orbitella new material is added to the case in the second year, again in a rather untidy manner. The final case is 7 to 8mm long, m.o. at a 40 to 45° angle. It pupates attached to a leaf or twig. On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Green Alder, Silver Birch and Downy Birch.