Coleophora alticolella Zeller, 1849 Species
Last modified: Jan. 21, 2024, 5:26 p.m.
This is a common species in Belgium.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Coleophoridae > Genus: Coleophora > Species: Coleophora alticolella
- Vernacular names
- Gewone ruskokermot (NL), Common rush case-bearer (EN), Kleine Binsen-Sackmotte (DE)
- Synonyms
- Coleophora caespititiella sensu auct., nec Zeller, 1839
- First mention in Belgium
- De Fré Ch. 1858. Catalogue des Microlépidoptères de la Belgique. — Annales de la Société entomologique belge 2: 45–162. On page 144 (as caespititiella). view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan: 10–16 mm.
This light-brown to brown species has a lighter costa-line almost to the apex.
The antennae are most of the time ringed.
Museum specimens
No pictures yet!Specimens in nature
Genitalia
Case
The larva constructs a small silken case of about 5–6 mm. The mouth angle is 0–5°.
See also bladmineerders.be.
Bionomics
Eggs are oviposited on the flowers. At first, the larva hides and feeds inside a seed of Juncus. A white or grey tubular silken case is constructed from August on.
The species hibernates as a larva in the case and, still in the same case, pupates in May–June.
The case cannot be distinguished from the one of C. glaucicolella, that has the same biology and host plants.
The adults are active from dusk till dawn and come to light.
Flight periods
The adults fly in June and July.
Habitat
Since Juncus –the primary hostplant– prefers wet places, that is also where C. glaucicolella is to be found.
