Coleophora

[bobhelencoan]

Adult moth hatched for the case found on the upper surface of a sessile oak leaf. Can the moth be identified as Coleophora lutipennella or would it stll nedd to be dissected?
Thanks Bob & Helen

[stevehind]

Hi Bob & Helen

How have you managed to eliminate Coleophora flavipennella, only I am not aware of any way of separating the two from either the final larval case, or adult moth without dissecting it ?

Regards
Steve

[bobhelencoan]

We have not given a positive ID. Some books we have read suggest the case and moth can be identified together. If this is not the case then we will record it a lutipenella or flavipenella. Bob & Helen

[stevehind]

Do your other books mention which features can be used to separate these two if you have the adult and the case ? You can ID the smaller over-wintering cases but I am not aware of any feature which distinguishes the final cases.
Regards
Steve

[bobhelencoan]

Thanks Steve. Whatever I saw mentions something about the top of the case being significant. Could be it was the early case but it was not made clear. I still have the moth. Helen

[bobhelencoan]

Dissection identified the moth as Coleophora lutipennella. Thanks Steve.