Coleophoridae

37.074 Small Rush Case-bearer Coleophora taeniipennella Herrich-Schäffer, 1855

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 4.5 to 5.5mm

Habitats: Damp woodland with ditches along rides, damp meadows, marshes and fens.

Habits: The moth is easily disturbed in the day. It flies in the evening and at night.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on the developing seeds in the seed-capsules of Jointed Rush and Sharp-flowered Rush and when populations become dense on Hard Rush, Soft Rush, Compact Rush, Bulbous Rush and Blunt-flowered Rush. In the third instar a complete seed-capsule is cut to enclose a silk case. The rear of the buff-coloured silk case protrudes from the seed-capsule that girdles the forward part of it. The final trivalved case is 5mm long, m.o. at a 20° angle. It feeds until late October, then overwinters on the foodplant, pupating in May.