Coleophoridae

37.040 Stitchwort Case-bearer Coleophora lithargyrinella Zeller, 1849

Notable B

Similar species:

Forewing: 5.5 to 6mm

Habitats: Deciduous woodland margins, rides and clearings, verges, embankments and coastal cliffs and undercliff.

Habits:

Foodplant: The larva mines the leaves of Greater Stitchwort and occasionally Sea Campion, Red Campion, sandworts or chickweeds. The larva mines the leaves until October then overwinters. Feeding recommences in March. The case is formed from the leaf mine and later extended with pink-brown silk. The final trivalved case is cylindrical, pink-brown, with a single dorsal keel, dividing to a double keel at the rear. It is about 8mm long, m.o. at a 20 to 30° angle. It pupates in late May, attached low down on a stem.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Slender Sandwort, Field Mouse-ear, Sticky Mouse-ear and Common Chickweed.