Coleophora saponariella

Coleophora saponariella is a moth of the family Coleophoridae. It is found from Sweden to Portugal and Italy and from France to Poland and Romania.

Coleophora saponariella
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Coleophoridae
Genus:	Coleophora
Species:	C. saponariella
Binomial name
Coleophora saponariella Heeger, 1848[1]

The wingspan is 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in).[2]

The larvae feed on Saponaria officinalis and possibly Saponaria ocymoides and Agrostemma species. Young larvae make an upper-surface, later full depth corridor, out of which the first case is cut. The final case is an almost straight, trivalved tubular silken case of about 7–10 mm (0.28–0.39 in). The mouth angle is 70-80°. The case is ash grey with blackish length lines.[3] Larvae can be found from September to May.

References

1. Fauna Europaea
2. Swedish Moths
3. "Coleophora saponariella". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 12 August 2020.