37.084 BF566

Coleophora sternipennella

(Zetterstedt, 1839)

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Wingspan c. 13mm.

Part of a group of species that are difficult to separate on external characters, this species is most like Coleophora saxicolella in appearance, and both species feed on the same foodplants and have very similar larval cases.

It is distributed mostly in the south and south-east of England, but also occurs in Wales and north-east England. It is probable that the distribution is imperfectly known due to the difficulties in identification.

The larvae feed in a silken case on the seeds of orache (Atriplex) or goosefoot (Chenopodium) from September, and overwinter as a larva before pupating in June. Adult moths appear in July and August.