Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Family
COLEOPHORIDAE
(casebearer
moths)
Coleophora potentillae
Elisha (
586-587
)
Small blotch mines formed by this locally common
species are sometimes found on the leaves of cultivated
rose (
Rosa
), disfiguring the foliage but usually not
causing distortion. Attacks also occur on ornamental
cinquefoil (
Potentilla
), goat's beard (
Aruncus dioicus
),
Rubus
and strawberry (
Fragaria
). The larval cases are
cone-shaped, and reminiscent of tiny snail shells. They
may be found on the underside of leaves from August to
September. Pupation takes place in the larval case,
attached to fallen leaves or other debris on the ground.
Adults (10 mm wingspan) are mainly greyish-bronze;
they occur in June.
A distinctive family of small moths with long, narrow,
pointed wings. The larvae commence feeding as leaf
miners but then inhabit characteristic portable cases
formed from silk and a cut-out portion of leaf or other
plant tissue; crotchets on the abdominal prolegs are
arranged into transverse bands.
Coleophora laricella
(Hübner) (
584-585
)
Larch casebearer moth
larva
larch casebearer
An often common pest of larch (
Larix
), including
ornamentals, but mainly of importance in forestry.
Widespread in central and northern Europe; introduced
into North America.
=
Coleophora serratella
(Linnaeus) (
588-589
)
syn.
C. fuscedinella
Zeller
Hazel casebearer moth
An abundant pest of trees, including alder (
Alnus
), birch
(
Betula
), crab-apple (
Malus
), elm (
Ulmus
), hazel
(
Corylus
) and hornbeam (
Carpinus betulus
); often
associated with ornamentals and young amenity trees.
The larvae inhabit short, cylindrical cases, attached to
the underside of leaves. When feeding, they form pale
blotches, which sometimes cause noticeable distortion
of the leaf blades. Cases occur on host plants from
September onwards, but are most obvious in spring and
early summer. The brownish, ochreous-tinged adults
(12 mm wingspan) occur in July and early August.
DESCRIPTION
Adult:
9-11mm wingspan; fore wings shiny grey; hind
wings grey; head grey, with light grey antennae.
Larva:
up to 4.5 mm long; dark brown, with a black head and
prothoracic plate, and a pair of small, black plates on the
second thoracic segment; 16-legged.
Case:
4.0-4.5 mm
long; pale straw-coloured to greyish white.
LIFE HISTORY
Adults occur in June and July, depositing eggs on the
shoots of larch. Larvae feed on the needles from
September onwards, and hibernate during the winter. In
spring, the larvae attack the young needles, entering a
short distance from the tip of a needle and eating out the
contents. Individuals are fully fed by the end of May or
early June. They then pupate, and adults emerge a few
weeks later. There is just one generation annually.
DAMAGE
The tips of damaged needles appear whitish and, when
examined under a lens, the rounded entry hole
(characteristic of casebearer feeding blotches) may be
seen; the tips of damaged needles often break off.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search