Coleophoridae

37.032 White-legged Case-bearer Coleophora albitarsella Zeller, 1849

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 5 to 6mm

Habitats: Open woodland, downland, scrub, marshes and fens. Often in the shelter or shade of brambles or a fence.

Habits: The moth occasionally flies in sunshine.

Foodplant: The larva mines large whitish blotches on the underside of the leaves of Ground-ivy, Selfheal, calamints, Wild Basil, mints, Wild Marjoram, thymes, Wild Clary or Lemon Balm. The composite case is made from about a dozen or more pieces of leaf neatly added throught its feeding period. It overwinters half-fed and continues feeding from March until it pupates in early May. The final bivalve case is slender, shining black brown, with a transparent ventral keel towards the end. It is about 9mm long, m.o. 50 to 60° angle. It pupates near the ground attached to a stone or post. On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Gypsywort, Water Mint, Corn Mint, Cat-mint and Meadow Clary.