Coleophoridae

37.081 Black Bindweed Case-bearer Coleophora therinella Tengström, 1848

Notable B

Similar species:

Forewing: 6 to 7.5mm

Habitats: Wasteland and arable margins.

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on the green, unripe seeds in a flower of Black-bindweed, which is often growing part hidden on the ground. While feeding on the unripe seeds the frass is brown. It later feeds on the blackish ripe seeds and then the frass is white. The silk case is added to from the front as it grows. The final trivalved, dark brown, silk case is sparsely covered in soil particles and cylinderical with a slight keel and ventral lengthways ridges. It is 8 to 10mm long, m.o. at a 20° angle. The larva is full-fed in September, but the overwintering and pupation sites have not been recorded.