Coleophoridae

37.079 Kent Blite Case-bearer Coleophora aestuariella Bradley, 1984

pRDB2

Similar species:

Forewing: 5 to 5.5mm

Habitats: Salt-marsh, in the upper parts, close to the high water mark.

Habits: The species was unknown in Britain until the first site was discovered on the north Kent coast in 1981.

Foodplant: The larva initially feeds internally on the developing seeds of Annual Sea-blite. The early case is bivalved and constructed of pink silk. As the larva grows more silk is added until the larva is full-fed in late October. The final pink-brown, almost cylinderical, slightly laterally flattened, trivalved case is 5mm long, m.o. at a 15° to 30° angle. In captivity a silk cocoon was spun to enclose the overwintering larva and pupa.