Coleophoridae

37.092 Catchfly Case-bearer Coleophora galbulipennella Zeller, 1838

pRDB1

Similar species:

Forewing: 7 to 8mm

Habitats: Shingle beaches.

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on Nottingham Catchfly. It initially feeds on the seeds before overwintering below the plant. In the spring it mines the lower leaves that touch the ground. This is done gregariously from the under surface, leaving greenish blotches on the leaves. The fully formed case is a slender tube, pale ochreous with about ten longitudinal dark stripes formed from chewed seed fragments. The paler lines being the silk expansion gussets formed as the larva enlarged it case. The case is about 12mm long, m.o. 40° angle. The larva is full-fed by July. After overwintering the larva pupates in late June attached to moss or shingle under the foodplant.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Spanish Catchfly.