37.024 BF506 - Coleophoridae - Coleophora vitisella - Cowberry Case-bearer

37.024 BF506 - Coleophoridae - Coleophora vitisella - Cowberry Case-bearer - Gregson, 1856

Adult Micro: CAT 4 - Gen. Det. Required -

Leaf-miner: CAT L - The leaf or a Photo required -

Larval Case: C1 - Distinctive Species -

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- Rare / Uncommon / Scarce - Leaf Miner

Taxonomy: Micro >> Coleophoridae

Other Name/s: Northern Case-bearer

ID Difficulty: Red

- difficult to identify - detailed examination required, often a Gen Det and/or specimen and quality photographs are required.

ID pointers: No available information

Distribution: (Last record: February 2025 Longdendale, Derbyshire ) - Nationally scarce A; Very few records; recent records 2025 of the larval case from Longdendale, Derbyshire and from the VC57 side of Longdendale

Flight Period: June / July /

Mine Period: January / February / - Some interesting comments from Christian Heintzen’s studies of this Leaf Miner. ” These are a bit more tricky to find, as they are on the lower surface of the leaf. What I found a useful sign are irregular isolated brown (not black) patches on the upper side of the leaf. These may be worth investigating by looking at the underside. The case isn’t necessarily where these patches are as the larva seems to be quite mobile and readily moves around on the plant to find a fresh leaf. The caterpillar cuts out -or grazes off? surprisingly circular areas from where it sits and when it moves to a fresh spot you can see these circular areas when you hold the leaf against the light. Here is a composite image from the case and mines I found at Didsbury Intake the other day”.

Moth Activity: Cathemeral - occasionally attracted to light

*** Last updated on 10 March 2025 by RP ***

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Wingspan: 10-13mm

Food Plant: Cowberry

Last Recorded Year: February 2025 Longdendale, Derbyshire

Last Recorded By: Christian Heintzen

Last Recorded General Area: Not Recorded

No First Date Information Recorded

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