''Coleophora caespititiella'' is a
moth
Moths are a group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not Butterfly, butterflies. They were previously classified as suborder Heterocera, but the group is Paraphyly, paraphyletic with respect to butterflies (s ...
of the family
Coleophoridae
The Coleophoridae are a family of small moths, belonging to the huge superfamily Gelechioidea. Collectively known as case-bearers, casebearing moths or case moths, this family is represented on all continents, but the majority are found in temp ...
. This species is found throughout the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
and most of Europe. It is also known from North America. The Coleophoridae group are often collectively known as the case moths or case-bearers.
Description
The larvae feed on rushes (''
Juncus
''Juncus'' is a genus of monocotyledonous flowering plants, commonly known as rushes. It is the largest genus in the family Juncaceae, containing around 300 species.
Description
Rushes of the genus ''Juncus'' are herbaceous plants that superfici ...
'' species), producing spun silken pupal cases within which they overwinter on the seed heads. The adults are small and brown with pointed wings. Head light greyish-ochreous. Antennae white, ringed with fuscous anteriorly except towards apex. Forewings greyish-ochreous, sometimes whitish-sprinkled, rather shining; costa distinctly white from base to 2/3 shading into cilia posteriorly; rarely somewhat darker streaks between veins towards costa. Hindwings grey.
[Emmet A.M., Langmaid J.R., Bland K.P., Corley M.G.V. & Razowski J, Coleophoridae in A. Maitland Emmet ed., 1996 '']The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland
''The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland'' (abbreviated to ''MBGBI'' or ''MOGBI'') is a multi-volume reference work on the Lepidoptera of the British Isles.
The original publisher of this series was Curwen Books who published vo ...
'' Volume 3 (Yponomeutidae to Elachistidae)
Gallery
File:Coleophora caespitiella on Soft Rush.JPG, Pupal cases, showing feeding, not galling behaviour
File:Soft Rush with cocoons of Coleophora caespitiella.JPG, Pupal cases on ''Juncus'' flower heads
File:Coleophora caespititiella.jpg
File:Coleophora_caespititiella_larva.JPG, Larva
See also
* ''
Juncus effusus
''Juncus effusus'' is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant species in the rush family Juncaceae, with the common names common rush or soft rush. In North America, the common name soft rush also refers to ''Juncus interior''.
Distribution
''J ...
''
References
Sources
* Chinery, Michael (1986). ''Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe''. London : W. Collins. .
* Baldizzone, van der Wolf & Landry (2006) ''World Catalogue of Insects.''
External links
UKmothsLepiforum.de
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4247826
caespititiella
Moths described in 1839
Moths of Europe
Moths of North America
Taxa named by Philipp Christoph Zeller