Coleophora caespititiella

Coleophora caespititiella
	Adult
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Coleophoridae
Genus:	Coleophora
Species:	C. caespititiella
Binomial name
	Coleophora caespititiella; Zeller, 1839
Synonyms
	List Ornix lacunaecolella (Duponchel, 1844); Coleophora lacunicolella (Zeller, 1849); Coleophora agrammella (Wood, 1892); Coleophora caespitiella (lapsus); ;

Coleophora caespititiella is a moth of the family Coleophoridae. This species is found throughout the United Kingdom and most of Europe. It is also known from North America. The Coleophoridae group are often collectively known as the case moths or case-bearers.

Description

The larvae feed on rushes (Juncus species), producing spun silken pupal cases within which they overwinter on the seed heads. The adults are small and brown with pointed wings.^[1] Head light greyish-ochreous. Antennae white, ringed with fuscous anteriorly except towards apex. Forewings greyish-ochreous, sometimes whitish-sprinkled, rather shining; costa distinctly white from base to 2/3 shading into cilia posteriorly; rarely somewhat darker streaks between veins towards costa. Hindwings grey.^[2]

Gallery

Pupal cases, showing feeding, not galling behaviour
Pupal cases on Juncus flower heads
Larva

References

^ Chinery, page 126
^ Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description

Sources

Chinery, Michael (1986). Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe. London : W. Collins. ISBN 0-00-219137-7.
Baldizzone, van der Wolf & Landry (2006) World Catalogue of Insects.

External links

[1] Chinery, page 126

[2] Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description

[1]

[2]