Coleophora binderella (Kollar, 1832)
grey alder case-bearer
Betula pendula, Belgium, Liège, Villers-le-Bouillet © Jean-Yves Baugnée (autumn)
Alnus glutinosa, Belgium, prov. Namur, Grand-Leez (autumn) © Jean-Yves Baugnée
Alnus incana, Belgium, prov. Namur, Schaltin; © Jean-Yves Baugnée (spring)
mines, with cutouts
case
Larva in a composite leaf case, composed of large leaf fragments. Characteristically, the leaf fragments are attached in a failry untidy way. In spring the case has two colours, because the old material (dull yellowish, grey or pink) dates from before the hibernation, while new, reddish brown material dates from after the winter. As the pictures show, the case is also enlarged by the addition of ringlets. The case finally is about 7-8 mm long; the mouth angle is 40-45°.
host plants
Betulaceae; oligophagous
Alnus glutinosa, incana, viridis; Betula pubescens, pendula; Carpinus betulus en Corylus avellana.
In Britain almost exclusively on Alder (Heal, 1982a; Robbins, 1991a).
phenology
The larvae start in October, hibernate in their case, restart feeding in April and reach maturity in end May (Emmet, Langmaid, Bland ao, 1996a).
BENELUX
BE observed (De Prins, 1998a).
NE observed (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a); rather rare (Microlepidoptera.nl).
LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2008).
distribution within Europe
From Scandinavia and Finland to the Iberian Peninsula and Italy, and from Ireland to the Baltic States and Roumania (Fauna Europaea, 2008).
synonyms
Coleophora bicolorella Stainton, 1861; C. politella Scott, 1861.
references
Ahr (1966a), Baldizzone (1979a), Baldizzone, Tokár & Kovács (2004a), Biesenbaum & van der Wolf (1999a), Buhr (1935a), Emmet, Langmaid, Bland ao (1996a), Heal (1982a), Heckford (1986a), Hering (1924b, 1925a, 1957a, 1962a), Huisman & Koster (1995a, 2000a), Huisman, Koster, van Nieukerken & Ulenberg (2001a), Ivinskis & Savenkov (1991a), Klimesch & Skala (1936b), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Kvičala (1938a), van Nieukerken, Gielis, Huisman ao (1993a), Patzak (1974a), De Prins & Steeman (2011a, 2013a), Robbins (1991a), Schütze (1931a), Sefrová (2005a), Suire (1961a), Szőcs (1977a, 1981a), Toll (1952a, 1962a), Zoerner (1969a, 1970a).