Coleophoridae

37.045 Mouse-ear Case-bearer Coleophora chalcogrammella Zeller, 1839

pRDB1

Similar species:

Forewing: 4 to 5mm

Habitats: Breckland and coastal wasteland on calcareous sandy soils.

Habits:

Foodplant: The larva mines the leaves of Field Mouse-ear and sometimes Lesser Stitchwort. The larva makes a short gallery mine which widens into a small blotch. The first case is cut from this blotch. The final case is orange-brown, slender, tubular and tapering towards the rear. This trivalved case is about 6mm long, m.o. at a 30° angle. It pupates low down.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Greater Stitchwort, Slender Sandwort and Three-nerved Sandwort.