Early stages: two more Coleophorids

Managing to find plenty of cases of late, these two were on Alder.  The feeding signs are quite obvious and these only took a few minutes to find.


Coleophora binderella - case on Alder


 Coleophora serratella - case on Alder

Dave

Early stages: Coleophora lineolea

Successfully targeted Hedge Woundwort (Stachys sylvatica), one of the foodplants of the case-bearing larvae of Coleophora lineolea yesterday.

The feeding signs are quite obvious from above, betraying the larval cases below, and don't take too long to find at all.

One to look out for.









Dave

Early stages: Timothy Tortrix (Aphelia paleana)

The larvae of Timothy Tortrix feed on a range of plants and are relatively easy to find right now as the feeding signs can be quite obvious; the larva is also distinctive.  I find this species most often on Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata), growing on waste ground in various locations.



Larva in leaf fold of Ribwort Plantain


Feeding signs


Feeding signs, again

Covert Wood, 29th April 2012

Spent a few minutes sweeping across the heathland areas within this woodland complex at the weekend with pretty pleasing results, including these two:


Neofaculta ericetella


Ancylis uncella

Also quite a few mines around, including this one:


Eriocrania unimaculella

It's a miracle - three species!!

Three species observed by day today, singles of Ericocrania subpurpurella and Esperia sulphurella but loads of Cameraria ohridella around every Horse Chestnut tree as well as one being the only moth to the trap last night too.


Eriocrania subpurpurella


Esperia sulphurella


Cameraria ohridella

Just in case: Coleophora paripennella

It's the time of year when many of the overwintering larvae of the case-bearing Coleophorids resume feeding, often leaving tell-tale signs that allow them to be located.

I came across this case, Coleophora paripennella, when searching the basal rosette of leaves on Knapweed plants in the field adjacent to the house.








Feeding signs

Dave

Early stages: Fowlmead Country Park

Made the most of a lovely spring afternoon with an hour at Fowlmead Country Park near Deal hunting for mines and larvae. The trip turned out to be very fruitful with the following:

 Larvae

Limnaecia phragmitella on Typha
 

 Endothenia gentianaeana on Teasel (larvae examined to separate from E. marginana and will be reared through)

Mines - all on Quercus ilex, and dozens of each of the species listed below:

Ectoedemia heringella 



Stigmella suberivora 



and Phyllonorycter messaniella.


Dave