Coleophora conspicuella

Wingspan 13 to 17.5 mm.  The adults are yellowish-brown with distinctive white streaks. There are many similar Coleophora species and gen det is necessary to identify them to species.

Other Coleophora species.

Adult   Cased Larva

Adults should be identified by gen det.  If possible please provide a photograph to support your record.  Cased Larva should be reared through and adult confirmed by gen det as this species is rare in our area. Please also state the larval host plant.

Field margins and other grassy places where Common Knapweed occurs.

Adults are on the wing in July and August, the cased larva are most likely to be encountered from mid April to June.

The cased larva is associated with Common Knapweed.

Quite a rare species in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as RDB 2.

Larvae were recorded at Ketton on 21st June 2023 and subsequently reared and confirmed by gen det. This was the first time this species had been recorded in VC55 (Leicestershire and Rutland).