Plant Parasites of Europe

leafminers, galls and fungi

Coleophora binderella

Coleophora binderella (Kollar, 1832)

grey alder case-bearer

Coleophora binderella case

Betula pendula, Belgium, Liège, Villers-le-Bouillet © Jean-Yves Baugnée (autumn)

Coleophora binderella: larva in its case on Alnus glutinosa

Alnus glutinosa, Belgium, prov. Namur, Grand-Leez (autumn) © Jean-Yves Baugnée

Coleophora binderella case

Alnus incana, Belgium, prov. Namur, Schaltin; © Jean-Yves Baugnée (spring)

Coleophora binderella mine

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).

Last modified 29.x.2021