Coleophora siccifolia Stainton, 1856
grey birch case-bearer
all sort of woody plants
Mespilus germanica, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Geel, Mosselgoren, 22.ix.2020 © Carina Van Steenwinkel
detail
youth case
Sorbus aucuparia, Assen, Amelterbos 17ix.2019 © Ben van As
Myrica gale, Belgium, prov. Limbourg, Rekem, Vallei van de Zijpbeek, 16.ix.2017 © Carina Van Steenwinkel
several feeding traces, including the mine from which the case has been cut
Crataegus monogyna, Loon (Dr), 28.viii.2017 © Ben van As
from Toll (1952a)
Betula, Belgium, Wortegem-Petegem, 29.viii.2009 © Steve Wullaert
Crataegus monogyna, Belgium, prov. Liège, Flémalle-Haute: youth case, 2.v.2012 © Jean-Yves Baugnée
Betula, Belgium, prov. Namur, Vierves-sur-Viroin © Stéphane Claerebout
detail
case
Tubular leaf case. The case is almost barrel-shaped, with a large leaf fragment that, while withering, folds itself untidily around the tube.
Before a larva leaves a mine to start on a fresh one, it often detaches the upper epidermis by cutting along the sides of the mine; often completely, sometimes only partially. The detached epidermis falls off or, when it is only partially loosened, dries and curls (Emmet, 1980a).
The young larva, in autumn, initially mines a gallery. A silken-lined side branch, positioned along a thick vein, serves as a resting place during feeding pauses. After this period the larva makes an oval blotch, excises it to form its first case, and goes into hibernation.
host plants
polyphagous
Alnus; Betula alleghaniensis, nana, pendula, pubescens; Carpinus betulus; Crataegus crus-galli, laevigata, monogyna; Ligustrum ovalifolium; Malus domestica; Mespilus germanica; Myrica gale; Sorbus aucuparia; Tilia.
phenology
Larvae are full-fed in Britain in end August, but continental authors write October (Emmet ao, 1996a).
BENELUX
BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).
NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2009).
LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
distribution within Europe
Probably all of Europe (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
larva
Only three pairs of abdominal prolegs (Emmet ao, 1996a).
references
Ahr (1966a), Bachmaier (1965a), Biesenbaum & van der Wolf (1999a), Burmann (1992a), Emmet (1980a), Emmet, Langmaid, Bland ao (1996a), Hering (1921a, 1927b, 1957a), Huemer & Erlebach (2003a), Huisman & Koster (1996a), Huisman, Koster, van Nieukerken & Ulenberg (2004a), Huisman, Kuchlein, van Nieukerken ao (1986a), Ivinskis & Savenkov (1991a), Klimesch (1989a), Klimesch & Skala (1936a), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Maček (1999a), Michaelis (1983a), van Nieukerken, Gielis, Huisman ao (1993a), Patzak (1974a), De Prins (2010a), Pröse (1995a), Robbins (1991a), Skala (1951a), Sønderup (1949a), Stammer (2016a), Steeman & Sierens (2018a), Szőcs (1977a), Toll (1962), Zoerner (1975a).