Status
Morley’s Final Catalogue: Doubtless quite common. Flew to light at Monks Soham
on 23 July 1931 (Morley). [Pistol-shaped larval-cases often frequent on sallow in marshes. Bentley Woods in both 1894 and 1901 (Pyett); Aldeburgh (Ctw). Bred from Monks-park Wood (Mly); Worlington in 1925 and Ipswich in 1936 (Whit).]
Recent Status: Few Suffolk records. In respect of Morley’s comments the square bracketed part was listed under C. anatipennella but clearly refers, at least in part, to C. abidella.
Life Style: The moth is single brooded and can be found in June, July and August. The larvae feed on Salix species. In autumn they mine a leaf. In spring they bore into a bud before constructing a case. They pupate on a leaf or stalk.
Identification: There are seven members of the albidella group of Coleophora of which six are very similar and difficult to identify. C. anatipennella, C. albidella, C. kuehnella, C. ibipennella, C. betulella and C. currucipennella all have white forewings, thorax and head and a prominent white scale tuft on the antennal scape. There are minor differences in wing colour. The genitalia are all very similar and they all, except for C. kuehnella, have similar pistol shaped cases. However they have different foodplants. The larvae, having initially mined a leaf, become grazers of leaves from their mobile case.
C. albidella has forewing has scattered ochreous or fuscous scales and may also have a slight darkening at the base of the costa. https://mothdissection.co.uk/species.php?ABH=37.0500  | Determination by Genitalia Examination Required | |
Recorded in 11 (19%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1894.
Last Recorded in 2023. |