Coleophoridae

37.099 Hedge Case-bearer Coleophora striatipennella Nylander in Tengström, [1848]

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 5 to 6mm

Habitats: Woodland rides, rough grassland, wasteland, damp pasture, marshes and fens.

Habits: The moth flies in the late afternoon and later comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds in a seed-capsule on the seeds of Lesser Stitchwort, Common Chickweed, Common Mouse-ear or Field Mouse-ear. When a seed-capsule is empty a white silk case is made and the larva extends this case within the seed-capsule. It then feeds by entering a succession of new capsules usually from near the tip. The case is by this time a more ochreous colour. It extends its case by adding silk at the rear end and increases the girth by cutting gussets lengthways which it bridges with silk. The final grey-ochreous, tubular case narrows slightly toward the trivalved rear end. It is 6mm long, m.o. at a 30° angle. The larvae are usually full-fed by early September, but some feed until mid-October, when they overwinter probably attached low on the foodplant. The larva pupates near the ground in May.