Coleophoridae

37.051 Cloaked Case-bearer Coleophora kuehnella (Goeze, 1783)

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 6.5 to 8mm

Habitats: Deciduous woodland margins and rides, preferring sunny sites.

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on oaks. It initially feeds on the under surface of a leaf making groups of tiny holes. It overwinters from November in the axil of a twig. In the spring it feeds on the edges of the leaves like a macro-moth caterpillar, while gradually constructing a case with a silk mantle of translucent flaps (known as pallium) almost covering the case. The final blackish pistol case is about 8mm long, m.o. at a 90° angle. It pupates on the upper surface of a leaf, not necessarily on the foodplant.

On the European mainland it has been recorded feeding on Pedunculate Oak and Red Oak.