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Case bearers on hawthorn

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2021 10:32 am
by bobhelencoan
Found two types of case bearer on hawthorn. A post on facebook recently by someone else named the small curved case as Coleophora hemerobiella which we don't think is found in Cheshire. Can the moths be identified from the cases and food plant? We are trying to breed them through which should help with identification if successful.
Also do the larva leave the cases at any point as a few days days finding the cases a small larva was found in the container.
Any help much appreciated Bob & Helen

Re: Case bearers on hawthorn

Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2021 8:51 am
by GasMacc1
Coleophora hemerobiella is category 1 ("no additional evidence required") for the adult moth.

UK moths is of the opinion that it is "one of the more easily identifiable Coleophorids".
https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/coleophora-hemerobiella/

The case is category C1: also, "no additional evidence required".

The Sterling and Parsons field guide (p157) has a photo of an early case (curved) of Coleophora hemerobiella on hawthorn and a "final case" (straight), also on hawthorn. I don't know whether it's significant, but that photo of the final case is much darker than yours, as is the photo in Manley. The early case, however, looks very similar.

(Manley has a brief note: "two year life-cycle").

Good luck with the breeding through! That should remove any doubt.

Re: Case bearers on hawthorn

Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2021 8:53 am
by GasMacc1
P.S. Not sure about the larva. You mentioned that you have tried the online micro-moth larva key. Does it work for this specimen?

http://www.micromothlarvae.co.uk

Re: Case bearers on hawthorn

Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2021 10:29 am
by bobhelencoan
Thanks for all that detail. I feel we will just have to wait and hope to be sure. Bob & Helen

Re: Case bearers on hawthorn

Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 6:15 pm
by bobhelencoan
Up date. The small larvae made a hammock cocoon and emerged as Lyonetia clerkella.
A coleophora adult has emerged. Looks most like spinella. Are the case photos and adult photo enough for a posituve ID? the photo and case

Re: Case bearers on hawthorn

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2021 6:04 pm
by stevehind
It's either Coleophora coracipennella or C. spinella which need dissecting to be sure.

Re: Case bearers on hawthorn

Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2021 1:43 pm
by bobhelencoan
update dissected as Coleophora spinella. Thanks to Steve H