Coleophora kuehnella

Coleophora kuehnella

Alternative names
Cloaked Case-bearer
White Oak Case-bearer
Description

Wingspan between 14 and 17 mm.  Adult moths are white with some indistinct darker markings towards the wing tip. The larva mines the leaves of Oak.

Identification difficulty

Adult Larval case

Recording advice

Adult: Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required, and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In the comments box, state the key or ID method used and describe the size and identifying characters.  Larval Case: Please provide close up photograph of the case and state host plant.

Habitat

The species is associated with Oak. (See Life History)

When to see it

Adults fly in July and August.

Life History

The larva feeds on oak (Quercus) and forms a very distinctive-looking case. In the later stages, the actual case is surrounded by a semi-transparent 'cloak' constructed from scale-like segments of silken material.

UK Status

This species is locally distributed mainly in the south-east of England, ranging northwards to the Midlands and Derbyshire. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

VC55 Status

Rarely recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.  The first record for VC55 came from Ketton on 08/09/2022.

Reference
37.051 BF537

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

No additional images available for this species.

All NatureSpot records