Coleophoridae

37.106 Bronze Case-bearer Coleophora paripennella Zeller, 1839

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 5 to 6mm

Habitats: Woodland rides and clearings, downland, arable field margins and other sites where the foodplants are present.

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on the underside of the leaves of Common Knapweed or Creeping Thistle and occasionally other knapweeds, burdocks, Saw-wort, Spear Thistle and Melancholy Thistle. It initially makes an oval blotch mine from which it cuts its first case. If on knapweed it feeds briefly, then overwinters from September, feeding again from April to June. If on Creeping Thistle it may feed up rapidly and overwinter full-fed. The fully formed case is matt grey-black with an obvious pale expansion gusset running along the side. It is 8mm long, m.o. at a 0° to 20° angle. It pupates in June on a stem or on the ground.

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