Coleophoridae

37.107 Fat Hen Case-bearer Coleophora clypeiferella Hofmann, 1871

Notable A

Similar species:

Forewing: 5.5 to 7mm

Habitats: Wasteground, grassland on poor soils, root-crop fields.

Habits: The moth occasionally comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on Fat-hen. It feeds among the seed-heads in a flimsy silk tube. It cuts off this tube with the frass and seeds still attached and uses it as a case. It continues feeding on the seeds. This case turns brown in contrast to the green seed-heads. In October when it drops to the ground it abandons the case and overwinters full-fed in a brown parchment like case. In June it pupates in the case. It cuts its way out of the case using spines on its abdomen.