Coleophora betulella

Description

Coleophora betulella is a moth of the family Coleophoridae. It is found in all of Europe, except the Balkan peninsula. The wingspan is 10–15 mm. Head white. Antennae white, ringed with pale brownish, basal joint with rather short tuft.[Labial palps white.] Forewings white; veins faintly yellowish-tinged, near apex more fuscous ; costal edge anteriorly finely dark fuscous, near apex more strongly ; costal cilia fuscous or dark fuscous except at base and tips. Hindwings rather dark grey. Only reliably identified by dissection and microscopic examination of the genitalia. Adults are on wing from June to July. The larvae feed on Betula pendula and Betula pubescens. In its final stage the larva lives in a pistol shaped case, that with a mouth angle of 30°-45° is standing obliquely on the leaf.