Coleophora albella (Thunberg, 1788)

viviparous case-bearer

on Silene

Silene nutans, Belgium, prov. Namur, Viroinval, Mazée, Tienne de Najauge, vii.2019 © Stéphane Claerebout

case (from Patzak, 1974a, as C. leucapennella)

parasite

The female brings forth living larvae. The young larva for some time lives inside a capsule, feeding on the seeds. Then it construct a case out of an emptied fruit (or, if the fruit is too small, several fruits in a row).

host plants

Caryophyllaceae, monophagous

Silene armeria, flos-cuculi, italica, longicilia, nutans, otites, viscaria, vulgaris.

phenology

Larvae are active in June-July. Once full fed they leave the host plant and crawl op a tree. Leaving the case behind they bore themselves into the bark for the winter diapause.

distribution within Europe

Probably all Europe, except Ireland (PESI, 2018).

BENELUX

Not in the Netherlands; probably extinct in Belgium (Microlepidoptera.nl, Bladmineerders.be).

synonyms

Coleophora leucapennella (Hübner, 1796).

references

Baldizzone (1979a, 1984a, 2004a, 2020a), Baldizzone & van der Wolf (2000a), Biesenbaum & van der Wolf (1999a), Burmann (1992a), Corley, Marabuto, Maravalhas ao (2009a), Emmet, Langmaid, Bland ao (1996a), Huemer & Wieser (2000a), Ivinskis & Savenkov (1991a), Nel (1992b,c), Patzak (1974a), Schütze (1931a), Sippola & Itämies (2014a), Toll (1962a).