Coleophoridae

37.093 Thistle Case-bearer Coleophora peribenanderi Toll, 1943

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 6 to 7mm

Habitats: Rough grassland, verges, wasteland, woodland rides, livestock fields, disused arable fields, marshes and fens.

Habits: The moth occasionally comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva mines the under surface of the leaves of Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle or Marsh Thistle and occasionally burdocks, Musk Thistle or Slender Thistle. The larva initially makes a blotch mine from where it cuts its first case. Extensions to the case from this point are constructed from silk. The fully formed case is long and slightly convex in profile and constructed with grey silk with paler expansion gussets, giving it a streaked appearance. It is trivalved and 11 to 12mm long, m. o. at a 45° to 60° angle. The larva is usually full-fed in the autumn, but some feed again in the spring. It pupates in May, low down on the foodplant or adjacent plants.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Dwarf Thistle, Carline Thistle, Cabbage Thistle and Common Knapweed.