Leaf-miner
and case-bearer: The larva initially makes a blotch mine in the leaf, which it then
excises to form its case. The larva overwinters in its case before
resuming feeding in spring. A new case, 6-7 mm long, is then constructed
from a further blotch mine (UKMoths).
The
second case is indistinguishable from C.
spinella and C.prunifoliae (British
leafminers).
The
final case is a tubular leaf case, 6-7 mm long, light brown at first,
darker later. The rear end is trivalved, the mouth opening is around
45°. The larvae live at the underside of the leaves, and make
sizable full depth mines.Bladmineerders van Europa).
Larva: The larvae of moths have a head capsule and chewing mouthparts with opposable mandibles (see video of a gracillarid larva feeding), six thoracic legs and abdominal legs (see examples).
Pupa: The pupae of moths have visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).
Pupation occurs within the case in June. In common with many other
Coleophora the case is attached to the upper side of a leaf
during this stage of the moths life cycle (UKMoths).
Adult:
The adult is illustrated in UKMoths by Rob Edmunds.
The species is included in mothdissection.co.uk.
Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:
Hosts
elsewhere:
Time
of year - larvae: September to May (British
leafminers).
Time
of year - adults: A single generation from mid-June to the end
of July (UKMoths).
Distribution
in Great Britain and Ireland: Scattered colonies throughout
the UK (British
leafminers) including Anglesey, Bedfordshire, Caernarvonshire,
Cambridgeshire, Cardiganshire, Denbighshire, Dorset, Durham, East Gloucestershire, East Kent, East Norfolk, East Suffolk, Flintshire, Glamorgan, Hereforshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Isle of Wight, Leicestershire, Merionethshire,
Middlesex, North Hampshire, North Northumberland, Shropshire,
South Essex, South Hampshire, South Somerset, South-east Yorkshire,
South-west Yorkshire,
Stafford, Surrey, West Norfolk and West Suffolk (NBN
Atlas)
and the Channel Is. (Fauna Europaea).
Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland (National Biodiversity Data Centre Map).
Distribution
elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Austria,
Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, French mainland, Germany,
Hungary, Italian mainland, Madeira, Romania, Russia - South, Sicily
and Switzerland (Fauna Europaea).
NBN Atlas links to known host species:
British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:
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