Coleophora vitisella

Description

Coleophora vitisella is a moth of the family Coleophoridae. It is found from Fennoscandia and northern Russia to the Pyrenees and Italy and from Great Britain to Romania. The range extends to the Russian Far East. The species was recently discovered in Canada, with records from Yukon and Manitoba. The wingspan is 10–13 mm. Adults are on wing from May to the beginning of July in western Europe. The larvae feed on Pyrola species and Vaccinium vitis-idaea. They create a greyish black tubular composite leaf case of about 5–6 mm. The case is composed of numerous rings, each cut out of the lower epidermis of the hostplant. The rear end is strongly curved. The mouth angle is about 45°. Pupation takes place in the case at the upperside of the leaf. Development takes two years, with a diapause in early summer, when the plant develops new foliage. Full-grown larvae can be found from September to April.