Photo © Mike Wall

Larch Case-bearer

Coleophora laricella

Checklist Number
37.066 [B&F: 0526]

Verification
Record requires retention of specimen until confirmed, and may require dissection. Consult with CMR if unsure

Classification

Family:Coleophoridae
Subfamily:Coleophorinae
Genus:Coleophora
Species:laricella
Authority:(Hübner, [1817])

Common in woodland throughout much of the British Isles, except for the extreme north of Scotland, the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland (MBGBI Vol 3). In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight recorded widely, but thinly, with the usual cluster of records in the south-east of the county, and probably under-recorded elsewhere. Wingspan 8-11 mm. Like many of the Coleophora, imagines are virtually impossible to identify without recourse to dissection, and the larvae, which live in cases of characteristic form and which can sometimes be found on the foodplant, may be easier to identify by comparison against a reference collection. Larva mines leaves of European Larch, living within a movable case, causing sufficient damage to be a serious pest in some areas.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)