Coleophoridae

37.100 Southern Stitchwort Case-bearer Coleophora solitariella Zeller, 1849

Notable B

Similar species:

Forewing: 5 to 6mm

Habitats: Woodland rides, hedgerow verges and hedge banks.

Habits: The moth is rarely seen.

Foodplant: The larva mines the leaves of Greater Stitchwort and occasionally Bog Stitchwort or Water Chickweed. The larva initially makes a short gallery containing frass, away from the leaf margin and ending in an oval blotch from which it cuts out its first case. It then moves to the underside of a leaf and makes white blotch mines. The rest of its case is made from grey silk. It is enlarged by adding to the rear and increasing the girth by cutting ventral slits longitudinally and bridging them with silk. If mild it feeds into November, before overwintering at the base of the foodplant. It resumes feeding gregariosly in March and further extends it case. The fully formed greyish-white trivalved case is slender, tubular and about 8mm long, m.o. at a 45° angle. It is full-fed in late May and pupates attached to the foodplant, on adjacent foliage or on a tree trunk.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Common Chickweed, Water Chickweed, Wood Stitchwort, Field Mouse-ear, Sticky Mouse-ear and Slender Sandwort.