Coleophoridae

37.069 Buff Rush Case-bearer Coleophora caespititiella Zeller, 1839

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 4 to 5mm

Habitats: Mainly damp woodland rides and clearings, but also damp meadows, marshes, fens and salt-marsh.

Habits: The moth is easily disturbed in the day, flies in the evening and at dusk and later comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on the seeds in a seed-capsule of Compact Rush, Soft-rush, Jointed Rush, Hard Rush or Salt-marsh Rush. It is not until the penultimate instar at the end of August that it makes a case. The final grey-silk, trivalved case is slender, cylindrical, with lengthways expansion stripes and decorated with dark vegetable matter and frass. It is 4 to 5mm long, m.o. at a 10 to 40 angle. It is full-fed by September or early October when it overwinters in the seed-head or away from the plant in a sheltered place. It pupates in the following April.