37.033 BF516  –  Coleophoridae – Coleophora trifolii – Melilot Case-bearer – (Curtis, 1832) Adult Micro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species –       Leaf-miner:  CAT A – Recorded accepted without the leaf or a photo –       Larval Case:  C1 – Distinctive Species –       PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Blue –  Generally Common / Widespread        purple – Leaf Miner
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Coleophoridae
** This moth species page is currently incomplete **
Other Name/s: Large Clover Case-bearer
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  Coleophora mayrella (Clothed Case-bearer); Coleophora alcyonipennella (Clover Case-bearer)
ID pointers: A metallic green sheen to the forewings and white tips to the antennae – one of the largest of the Coleophoridae
Distribution:  Widespread – probably under recorded
General Comment: None
Flight Period: June /  July –  one generation flies in the daytime but also attracted to light Mine Period:  January /  February /  March /  April /  May /  July /  August /  September /  October /  November /  December
Mine Period Additional: Forms a case from Melilot seedpods
Mine ID Difficulty:  Red Mine Leaf – Mine cannot be identified without breeding through and then adult may need to be examined by Gen Det Prep.
Mine Type/s: Not Recorded
Mine Feeding Method/s: Not Recorded
Mine Comment: None.
Moth Activity: Cathemeral   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Tony Davison; Dave Evans  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 3 January 2026 by RP ***
Wingspan: 15-20mm
Food Plant: Melilot
Specific Recorded History Dates for Common [Blue code Blue-coded] moths is not displayed/updated in this tab. However, all verified records for this moth are listed in the RECORDS tab below.

Selected Images:  

Melbourne (2024) – Tony Davison©; Belper (2024) – Dave Evans©



Distribution Map for Coleophora trifolii

Found 48 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 45 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 3 from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Mining
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

If the Map Layers function fails, just refresh the page and it should be OK after. Use the +- zoom on the top left, or on a tablet, use two fingers to zoom. Remember, the last layer you ticked is the one which displays the popup information - they sit on top of each other - de-select then re-select, to see the popup values.

Bedrock Geology ** indirectly affects moth distribution by influencing the type of habitat and food plants available in an area. In turn, this may affect the types of moths that can thrive, or where they can most likely be found.


NBN Atlas UK Distribution for – Coleophora trifolii

⚠️ Please wait for the map to load fully – do not click the link shown.


Note – the NBN Atlas datasets are listed in the map below and vary in their currency (uptodateness) – however, the map does give a general indication of the moth's distribution across the UK.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Coleophora trifolii
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Coleophora trifolii
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )


First/Last Recorded Dates: Coleophora trifolii
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]

Shading shows moth presence between dates

Click the colour discs below to Select/De-select as Required

Recordings By Year: Coleophora trifolii
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Coleophora trifolii
AGR: 9.92%   |   Total % Change: 93.9%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Coleophora trifolii
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Coleophora trifolii
( data includes Adult Stage only )

Flight Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's flight periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen in flight, from site observation records received between 2020-2026.

Mine Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Coleophora trifolii
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Mine Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's mine periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen mining, from site observation records received between 2020-2026.

Records Behind the Map and Charts - Coleophora trifolii – 48 records available

Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
BelperSK34N25/08/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34U24/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, DerbyshireSK33A24/08/20253adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34U23/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
DWT Wyver LaneSK35K22/08/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34N20/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T20/08/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34N18/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34U16/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T16/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34U15/08/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, DerbyshireSK33A15/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T14/08/20253adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34U13/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden GardenSK33T13/08/20254adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34N11/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T11/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, DerbyshireSK33A11/08/20254adultvc57_irecords_extract
Midway, Derbys.SK32A10/08/20255adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, DerbyshireSK33A03/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T16/07/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Midway, Derbys.SK32A13/07/20255adultvc57_irecords_extract
Melbourne, DerbyshireSK32X13/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, DerbyshireSK33A13/07/20254adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, DerbyshireSK33A11/07/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34N08/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden GardenSK33T03/07/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T03/07/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Midway, Derbys.SK32A30/06/20253adultvc57_irecords_extract
Midway, Derbys.SK32A16/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Midway, Derbys.SK32A16/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, DerbyshireSK33A13/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Midway, Derbys.SK32A12/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34U11/08/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34N01/08/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Melbourne, DerbyshireSK32X23/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Melbourne, DerbyshireSK32X03/06/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Midway, Derbys.SK32A17/05/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Staunton Harold Reservoir, DerbyshireSK32S15/08/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34U09/08/20232adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R07/09/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R20/08/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R15/06/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R02/06/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R01/09/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Havercroft RoadSK38L02/09/20181Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Avenue washlandsSK36Y30/06/20181adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lock Lane Tip, Sawley, Long EatonSK43V04/07/19871adultvc57_irecords_extract

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