Coleophoridae

37.071 Grey Rush Case-bearer Coleophora glaucicolella Wood, 1892

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 5 to 5.5mm

Habitats: Damp woodland rides, damp pasture, marshes, fens and salt-marsh.

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

Foodplant: Inland the larva feeds on the seeds of Hard Rush, Compact Rush, Soft-rush, Jointed Rush or Sharp-flowered Rush. On salt-marshes it feeds on Sea Rush and Salt-marsh Rush. In the first instar it feeds internally, but in the second it constructs a case of pale silk. To increase the length of the case it adds silk to the rear end, but to expand it a cut is made ventrally from end to end and silk is added. The final case is 5 to 6mm long, m.o. at a 0° to 10° angle. Some larvae are full-fed by November, but others resume feeding after overwintering and are full-fed at the end of May. These spring feeding larvae been recorded feeding on Heath Wood-rush. Pupation takes place attached to a stem.