Coleophora alnifoliae Barasch, 1934 Species
Last modified: Dec. 2, 2024, 5:46 p.m.
A fairly common species throughout Belgium, more distributed in the northern part.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Coleophoridae > Genus: Coleophora > Species: Coleophora alnifoliae
- Vernacular names
- Elzenkokermot (NL), Brown alder case-bearer (EN)
- First mention in Belgium
- Dufrane A. 1960. Microlépidoptères de la faune belge, (neuvième note). — Bulletin du Musée royal d'Histoire naturelle de Belgique 36(29): 1–16. On page 13.
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan 12–14 mm.
C. alnifoliae is ochreous to light brown with a grey tinge.
The antennae are ringed alternately white and brown to 5/6 of the top while the remaining part is uniformly white.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
No pictures yet!Caterpillar
The white caterpillar has a dark-brown head.
Case
This species builds a slender, brown, spatula case cut out of a leaf.
In May, the fully grown case is about 13 mm long. The mouth angle is circa 15°.
See also bladmineerders.be.
Bionomics
The eggs are deposited on the underside of a leaf of the host plant.
Before wintertime, mostly in September or October, the larva makes two consecutive youth cases. It resumes feeding in May, making the final case, in which it also pupates, in June, preferably on a twig and less often on a leaf.
Flight periods
The adults fly in June and particularly in July.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Alnus glutinosa and Alnus incana
- Host plant (genera):
- Alnus and Betula
The larvae can be found mainly on Alnus glutinosa, Alnus incana, less frequently on Betula.
Habitat
This species occurs everywhere in places with Alnus trees.
