Coleophoridae

37.078 Sea Rush Case-bearer Coleophora maritimella Newman, 1873

Notable B

Similar species:

Forewing: 4.5 to 5mm

Habitats: The dryer parts of salt-marsh.

Habits: The moth flies in sunshine and in the evening. It later comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva initially feeds on the developing seeds within the seed-heads of Sea Rush. Later a case is formed from an entire hollowed-out seed-capsule. The larva are difficult to find, but can be detected by looking for feeding holes in the sides of surrounding florets. The final case is 4.5 to 5mm long, m.o. at a 20° to 30° angle. They feed until November then overwinter either in the feeding place or perhaps at the base of the plant. In the spring it pupates in the feeding place or attached to a stem.