Coleophora currucipennella Zeller, 1839

scarce wood case-bearer

Quercus sp., België, prov Namen, Parc naturelle de Furfooz © Guido De Prins

Quercus rubra, Tilburg, de Kaaistoep © Paul van Wielink

Salix cinerea, Naardermeer

the “ear” from the side …

… and from above

Quercus robur, Belgium, prov, Namur, Doische, Matagne-la-Grande, RN Hurée © Stéphane Claerebout: case with characteristic skeleton feeding

case and larva, dorsal view

case

The full grown larva lives in a dull black pistol case of c 9 mm that, with a mouth angle of 80-90°, stands erect on the leaf. Characteristic is the presence of some ear-like flaps.

At least after the hibernation the larvae do not mine any more, but rather cause skeleton feeding.

host plants

Polyphagous on woody plants

Betula; Carpinus betulus; Corylus avellana; Fagus sylvatica; Malus; Prunus cerasus, spinosa; Pyrus communis; Quercus petraea, robur, rubra; Salix cinerea; Sorbus aucuparia.

It seems that the spectre of hostplants differs from one region to the other. Most authors mention Carpinus, Corylus, and Quercus, but Emmet ao (1969a) do not mention Corylus for Britain; but they do mention Salix, that among the continental authors is mentioned only by Schütze (1931a). For Suire (1961a) the primary host plant is Betula; no one else mentions that plant.

phenology

The larvae are full grown in early June (Emmet ao, 1996a).

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2010).

NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2010).

LUX recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

distribution within Europe

Almost all Europe, except Ireland, the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean Islands (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

larva

See Suire (1961a).

references

Baldizzone (1979a, 1985d, 1986b, 2004a), Biesenbaum & van der Wolf (1999a), Buhr (1935a, 1936a, 1937a), Burmann (1992a), Corley, Nunes, Rosete, ao (2020a), Dimic (1971a), Emmet, Langmaid, Bland ao (1996a), Graf, Kaiser, Leutsch ao (2013a), Hering (1934a, 1957a), Huemer (2012a), Huemer & Erlebach (2003a),Ivinskis & Savenkov (1991a), Kasy (1965a), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Michna (1975a), Nel (1992c), Nowakowski (1954a), Patzak (1974a), De Prins (1998a), De Prins & Steeman (2013a, 2014a), Razowski (1990a), Robbins (1991a), Schütze (1931a), Sønderup (1949a), Stammer (2016a), Suire (1961a), Szőcs (1977a, 1981a), Toll (1952a, 1962a), Vávra (2016a), van Wielink (2020a).