063 Coleophora albicosta

COLEOPHORIDAE

37.063 Coleophora albicosta (Gorse Case-bearer)

ws: 12.0-15.5mm; May-Jun in South, Jun-Jul in North; gorse (Ulex europaeus); common wherever there is gorse throughout Britain.

Coleophora albicosta §1 female

ID: Forewing with longitudinal white/pale streaks, without oblique streaks on or between veins extending to costa; antennal scape without tuft or with a short tuft (shorter than length of scape) > 4 species - C. albicosta/saturatella/genistae/discordella
These species have dorsal, plical, discal and costal white streaks which are variably expressed. C.albicosta is the only one of the 4 to have a long discal streak approaching the apex.
Female genitalia: Subgenital plate quadrate or slightly elongate (not transverse); scobinate part of ductus bursae >3x longer than SGP and with a 'tail'; signum with spike shorter than base plate.

Dissection

Male genitalia

Female genitalia

§1New Forest, Hampshire; 29/05/2010; female; fw 7.0mm
§2New Forest, Hampshire; 29/05/2010; male
§3 Hadleigh downs, Essex; 22/05/2012; female
§4 Winterton, Norfolk; 11/06/2015; female; fw 6.8mm; to light
§5 Winterton, Norfolk; 11/06/2015; female; fw 6.7mm; to light
§6 Lankham Bottom, Dorset; 19/06/2015; male; fw 6.0mm; netted by day
§7 Arne, Dorset; 03/07/2016; female; fw 6.3mm; to light
§8 Foulden Common, Norfolk; 23/05/2016; female; fw 7.1mm; to light
§9 Foulden Common, Norfolk; 06/06/2016; male; fw 7.3mm
All images © Chris Lewis