Coleophora lithargyrinella Zeller, 1849

sandy case-bearer

from Toll (1962a)

Stellaria holostea, Belgium, prov. Flandres Occidentale, Torhout © Steve Wullaert

Malus sylvestris (larva prob. strayed from its hostplant), Belgium, prov. Namur, Viroin; © Stéphane Claerebout

larva

Coleophora lithargyrinella, anal end of case

valves

case

Larva in a trivalved tubular silken case of 8 mm long, with a mouth angle of 25°-30°. The case is pale brown. A unique detail is the presence of a double dorsal keel, but this only occurs when the larva is fully developed (Emmet ao, 1996a): the foremost part of the keel remains single, but already before the middle the fork appears.

hostplants

Caryophyllaceae, narrowly oligophagous

Arenaria serpyllifolia; Cerastium arvense, glomeratum; Stellaria holostea, media.

Stellaria holostea clearly is the most important host plant. English authors also mention Silene dioica and maritima, but not a single word about these is said by continental authors.

phenology

Larvae are full-grown around May (Hering, 1957a).

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).

NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2009).

LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

distribution within Europe

From Fennoscandia to the Pyrenees and Italy, and from Ireland to the Baltic States and Romania (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

larva

Described by Emmet ao (1996a).

synonyms

Coleophora olivaceella Stainton, 1854, C. olivacella: auctorum.

references

Baldizzone (1986b, 2004a), Beiger (1965a), Biesenbaum & van der Wolf (1999a), Bland (1986a), Buhr (1937a), Emmet, Langmaid, Bland ao (1996a), Hering (1957a), Huber (1969a), Ivinskis & Savenkov (1991a), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Maček (1999a), Michaelis (1983a), Michalska (1976a), Michalska Myssura & Walczak (2010a), van Nieukerken, Gielis, Huisman, ao (1993a), Patzak (1974a), De Prins & Steeman (2013a), Razowski (1990a), Robbins (1991a), Schütze (1931a), Sønderup (1949a), Szőcs (1977a, 1978a, 1981a), Toll (1952a, 1962a).