Kingdom Animalia Family Coleophoridae Genus Coleophora Order Butterflies and moths | Class Insecta Phylum Arthropoda Rank Species | |
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Similar Coleophora, Coleophora silenella, Butterflies and moths, Coleophora ibipennella, Coleophora genistae | ||
Coleophora ornatipennella is a small moth of the Coleophoridae family.
Contents
Distribution
It is found in central and south-eastern Europe (from Germany and Poland to the Pyrenees, Italy and Greece and from France to Romania as well as in southern and northern Russia and Estonia) and in the Near East. It is also found in China.
Description
The wingspan is about 12 mm. Forewings are yellowish and apically falcate, with dark gray stripes.
Behavior
The moth flies in May and June depending on the location. The larvae feed on Alopecurus, Anthoxanthum, Avena, Briza, Bromus, Dactylis glomerata, Holcus, Koeleria and Poa species. Young larvae feed on the developing receptacles of Lamiaceae species and use them also to make their first case. Before hibernation, they switch to mining grass blades. They make another case. This is a laterally compressed leaf case of 13–17 mm with a mouth angle of about 30°. Initially, the colour is yellowish white, but it quickly turns brownish. Larvae can be found from October to May.