White-tipped Clover Casebearer
Coleophora alcyonipennella
COLEOPHORIDAE 4
Coleophora alcyonipennella (Kollar, 1832). F.L. 4.5 mm. Adventive. Common.
Being one of the metallic Coleophora this species is very similar to C. mayerella requiring genitalia examination to separate unless an association with a specific host plant can be established.
Habitat, seasonality and behaviour 5
Adults are on the wing from October through to March in pastures, gardens and other grassy areas. They fly by day in sunshine and come to light at night.
Life history 5
Adults feed on the nectar of clover flowers. The larvae feed on Trifolium repens (White clover) and Trifolium fragiferum (Strawberry clover) . They feed inside a case formed from a floret. Larvae have also been recorded on Medicago species (Pea family).
Sources and Credits
- (c) Donald Hobern, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/dhobern/12167023343/
- (c) Victor W Fazio III, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Victor W Fazio III
- (c) Tony Steer, all rights reserved, uploaded by Tony Steer
- Adapted by Tony Steer from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coleophora_alcyonipennella
- (c) Tony Steer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
More Info
iNaturalist NZ Map
| Resting posture | body inclined, wings rolled around body |
|---|---|
| Antennae | pointing forwards |
| Labial palps | curved upwards |
| Forewing | 2-5 mm, metallic |
