Coleophora spinella (Schrank, 1802)

apple & plum case-bearer

Crataegus laevigata, Luxemburg, Kautenbach

Crataegus monogyna, Nederhorst den Berg; youth case, after hibernation

Sorbus aucuparia, Flevoland, Reve-Abbertbos © Hans Jonkman

case

The larva lives two years. In the first year, in autumn, a composite leaf case is made that resembles a boomerang: front and rear end stand at almost right angles. In its second year the larva makes a trivalved tubular leaf case of about 6 mm, with a mouth angle of c. 45°; the case tapers somewhat to both ends.

host plants

Rosaceae, oligophagous

Cotoneaster; Crataeguslaevigata, monogyna; Cydonia oblonga; Malus domestica; Mespilus germanica; Prunus avium, cerasus, padus, spinosa; Pyrus communis; Sorbus aucuparia.

Mostly on Hawthorn.

phenology

Final cases in late May (Emmet ao, 1996a).

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2010).
NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2010).
LUX recorded (Ellis: Kautenbach)

distribution within Europe

From Fennoscandia to Spain and Italy, and from Ireland to Romania; also Central and South Russia (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

larva

synonyms

Coleophora cerasivorella Packard, 1870.

notes

It is impossible to distinguish the cases or larvae of C. coracipennella, prunifoliae, serratella, and spinella; only breeding, and to a lesser extent the host plant, can lead to an identification.

Crataegus monogyna, Castricum: although this is exceptional for leaf miners, the larvae of C. spinella -if indeed they are spinella– can be found in numbers on the still closed flower buds.

Crataegus monogyna, Belgium, prov. Namur, Viroinval, Treignes © Stéphane Claerebout

characteristic damage to the flower

references

Baldizzone (1979a, 2004a, 2020a), Baldizzone, Tokár, Z & S Kovács (2004a), Baldizzone, van der Wolf & Landry (2006a), Biesenbaum & van der Wolf (1999a), Buschmann, Fazekas & Pastorális (2011a), Corley, Marabuto, Maravalhas ao (2011a), Emmet, Langmaid, Bland ao (1996a), Hering (1957a), Huemer (1988a), Ivinskis & Savenkov (1991a), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Langmaid (1991a), Michaelis (1983a), Nel (1992b), Patzak (1974a), De Prins (1998a), De Prins & Steeman (2013a), Razowski (1990a), Robbins (1991a), Suire (1961a), Toll (1952a, 1962a), Tomasi (2014a), Wegner (2010a), Wieser (2008a), Wimmer (2001a).