Coleophoridae

37.104 Large Orache Case-bearer Coleophora adspersella Benander, 1939

Notable B

Similar species:

Forewing: 6 to 7.5mm

Habitats: Breckland, salt-marsh, wasteground, arable land, marshes and fens.

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on the ripening seeds of Grass-leaved Orache, other oraches, Sea-purslane and Annual Sea-blite. The larva initially feeds internally, but it later feeds from a buff coloured case. The fully formed tubular case is covered in a rufous granular material, but with smooth lighter stripes caused by the expansion gussets. It is trivalved and 7 to 8mm long, m.o. at a 0° to 10° angle. It is full-fed in late September leaving the foodplant to overwinter. It pupates in June.

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