Coleophora versurella Zeller, 1849 Species
Last modified: June 17, 2024, 12:21 p.m.
A very rare species in Belgium, nowadays mainly distributed in the northern part.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Coleophoridae > Genus: Coleophora > Species: Coleophora versurella
- Vernacular names
- Bleekgestreepte meldekokermot (NL), Pale orache case-bearer (EN)
- Synonyms
- Coleophora pallorella Benander, 1939
- First mention in Belgium
- Janmoulle E. 1952a. Espèces nouvelles pour la faune belge (suite). — Lambillionea 52: 13, 25–26, 49–50. On page 25.
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan 10,5–15 mm. The forewing color is variable; yellowish, ochreous till brownish. The lighter lines are obscure and there are most of the time dark dots in between, especially at the base of the forewings.
The antennae are ringed alternately in the first half.
Museum specimens
No pictures yet!Specimens in nature
Case
The silken case is greyish and about 7–8 mm long with a mouth angle between 10°–50°.
The case is somewhat swollen in the middle and has darker length lines.
See also bladmineerders.be.
Bionomics
At first, the caterpillar is living in a seed till it is about 1 mm. Then it makes a silken case upon which frass and plant rests and other materials are constructed.
Finally, the caterpillar disconnects itself from the seed and goes eating other seeds.
Fully developed cases are greyish and 7–8 mm long. The caterpillars overwinter in the case.
Flight periods
The adults fly from the end June till the end of September.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Atriplex littoralis
- Host plant (genera):
- Chenopodium and Atriplex
The larva feeds on the seeds of Chenopodium andAtriplex.
