Coleophora glitzella Hofmann, 1869
rannoch case-bearer
Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Boswachterij Schoonloo © Ben van As: occupied case
youth mine with excision
vacated case
the larve has made this extensive mine
from Toll (1962a)
case
The larva begins by making a frass-filled corridor of about 1 cm length; then the corridor widens into a blotch. The larva then cuts an elongated piece of epidermis out out the upper and lower epidermis of this blotch and uses it to construct its first case. In first case (elsewhere already in the mine) it passes its first winter. After hibernation it makes a new case in the same way, and later, after another hibernation, a third one. The case of the full-grown larva is a spathulate leaf case of 6-8 mm, composed of two elongates pieces of epidermis. The case is straight; the rear end is somewhat pointed and bivalved. The mouth angle is 90°.
The fleck mines that are made by glitzella often occupy half a leaf, and may contain some frass grains. This is because the larva, after having secured its case with silk on the leaf, often leaves the case altogether and may immerse itself deeply in the mine .
hostplants
Ericaceae, monophagous
Vaccinium uliginosum, vitis-idaea.
phenology
Full grown larvae around end of April of the second year (Emmet ao, 1996a).
BENELUX
BE not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2009).
LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
distribution within Europe
From Fennoscandia and northern Russia to Italy, and from Britain to Romania (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
references
Baldizzone & van der Wolf (2000a), Biesenbaum & van der Wolf (1999a), Emmet, Langmaid, Bland ao (1996a), Gielis, Huisman, Kuchlein ao (1985a), Hering (1957a), Huemer (1986b, 2012a), Ivinskis & Savenkov (1991a), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Landry ao (2013a), Marek & Krampl (1990a), Nel (1992c), Patzak (1974a), Pröse (1995a), Razowski (1990a), Sønderup (1949a), Toll (1962a).