Large Clover Case-bearer
Coleophora trifolii
This record describes Coleophora trifolii (species). Recorded family: Coleophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 15 to 20 mm. One of the larger of the Coleophoridae, this species has a metallic green sheen to the forewings. It occurs in areas of open waste ground and grassland. On the wing in June and July. The adults fly in the daytime, but are also attracted to light at night. The larvae feed on the seeds of Melilot. Locally distributed in England and Wales, being commoner in the south. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Wikipedia reference for Coleophora trifolii: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coleophora_trifolii.
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
It occurs in areas of open waste ground and grassland.
Seasonal Activity
On the wing in June and July. The adults fly in the daytime, but are also attracted to light at night.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on the seeds of Melilot.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Locally distributed in England and Wales, being commoner in the south. 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 trifolii. 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 Large Clover Case-bearer (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Large Clover Case-bearer
What is Large Clover Case-bearer?
Large Clover Case-bearer (Coleophora trifolii) is a species in the family Coleophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Large Clover Case-bearer found?
Habitat: It occurs in areas of open waste ground and grassland.
When is Large Clover Case-bearer active?
Large Clover Case-bearer: seasonal activity - On the wing in June and July. The adults fly in the daytime, but are also attracted to light at night..
What is the life cycle of a Large Clover Case-bearer?
The larvae feed on the seeds of Melilot.