Larch Case-bearer
Coleophora laricella
This record describes Coleophora laricella (species). Recorded family: Coleophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 8 to10 mm. This is quite a dark species. Photograph the cased larva on host; note host species in comments The adults fly in June and July and are attracted to light. The larvae feed on the needles of European Larch. When occurring in large numbers, entire trees can be damaged, the needles turning pale as the larvae eat them from within. A number of cases are built as the larvae grow, often in the centre of a floret of needles. A common species in suitable habitat throughout most of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/C.laricella.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gelechioidea/coleophoridae/coleophora/coleophora-laricella/
Wikipedia reference for Coleophora laricella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coleophora laricella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Coleophoridae (Casebearing Moths)
- Subfamily
- Coleophorinae
- Genus
- Coleophora (Casebearers)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Anywhere that European Larch occurs.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in June and July and are attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on the needles of European Larch. When occurring in large numbers, entire trees can be damaged, the needles turning pale as the larvae eat them from within. A number of cases are built as the larvae grow, often in the centre of a floret of needles.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A common species in suitable habitat throughout most of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Coleophora laricella. 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.
Photos of Larch Case-bearer (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About Larch Case-bearer
What is Larch Case-bearer?
Larch Case-bearer (Coleophora laricella) is a species in the family Coleophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Larch Case-bearer found?
Habitat: Anywhere that European Larch occurs.
When is Larch Case-bearer active?
Larch Case-bearer: seasonal activity - The adults fly in June and July and are attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Larch Case-bearer?
The larvae feed on the needles of European Larch. When occurring in large numbers, entire trees can be damaged, the needles turning pale as the larvae eat them from within. A number of cases are built as the larvae grow, often in the centre of a floret of needles.