Family: Coleophoridae 495     *     Apple & Plum Case-bearer     *     Coleophora spinella Photographs: Case on Pear (Pyrus). June 2011. Wingspan: 10-12mm. Adult requires gen.det for identification Flight time: June-July Food plants include Hawthorn (Crataegus), Apple (Malus) and Blackthorn (Prunus) Mine: September, then April-May. The larva lives for two years, creating a boomerang-like case in the autumn of the first year. In the second year it makes a 6mm trivalved tubular leaf case, the mouth angle c. 45°

Apple & Plum Case-bearer, Coleophora spinella
Kealkil, Co. Cork, SW Ireland. June 2011