37.038 Coleophora lineolea Copyright Martin Evans
37.038 Coleophora lineolea leaf damage Copyright Martin Evans
37.038 Coleophora lineolea leaf damage close-up Copyright Martin Evans
37.038 Coleophora lineolea larval case Copyright Martin Evans
Distribution map Copyright Martin Evans
Life stages table Copyright Martin Evans 37.038 Coleophora lineolea Copyright Martin Evans

Coleophoridae

37.038 Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea (Haworth, 1828)

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 5.5 to 6.5mm

Habitats: Scrub, wasteland, old quarries and gardens. Perhaps prefers plants sheltered by a hedge or wall.

Habits: The moth flies at dusk and comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva mines the leaves of Hedge Woundwort, Lamb's-ear, Black Horehound, Betony, White Horehound and dead nettles. By March the larva has mined a full depth gallery with a central dotted line of frass, quickly widening to a blotch, where the larva cuts the material for its first case. It then contiues to feed on the underside of the leaves. By May the white blotches have become large. The final case is laterally compressed, hairy, grey-brown about 10mm long, m.o. at a 90° angle. It pupates attached low down on the foodplants stem.