Coleophora betulella
This record describes Coleophora betulella (species). Recorded family: Coleophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 10 to 15 mm. This species has a relatively plain whitish form as well as a yellowish-streaked form. Occupies heathy habitats where the foodplant grows. Feeding on Birch (Betula) leaves, the larvae of this species create a distinctive 'pistol' shaped case from silk, rather like the closely related C. ibipennella, which feeds on oak. Indeed, at one time they were believed to be conspecific. The species is distributed thinly in England and Wales as far north as Cumbria. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Coleophoridae
- Genus
- Coleophora
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occupies heathy habitats where the foodplant grows.
Seasonal Activity
The adult moths fly in June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Feeding on Birch (Betula) leaves, the larvae of this species create a distinctive 'pistol' shaped case from silk, rather like the closely related C. ibipennella, which feeds on oak. Indeed, at one time they were believed to be conspecific.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The species is distributed thinly in England and Wales as far north as Cumbria. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Coleophora betulella. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Frequently Asked Questions About Coleophora betulella
What is Coleophora betulella?
Coleophora betulella is a species in the family Coleophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Coleophora betulella found?
Habitat: Occupies heathy habitats where the foodplant grows.
When is Coleophora betulella active?
Coleophora betulella: seasonal activity - The adult moths fly in June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Coleophora betulella?
Feeding on Birch (Betula) leaves, the larvae of this species create a distinctive 'pistol' shaped case from silk, rather like the closely related C. ibipennella, which feeds on oak. Indeed, at one time they were believed to be conspecific.