Pistol
Case-bearer Coleophora
anatipennella (Hübner, 1796)  |
| Status
.....Probably quite a widespread Coleophora,
although our own records would seem to indicate that this
moth is commonest in the Sherwood Forest area of
Nottinghamshire. Larval cases and feeding signs, should
be looked for on the leaves of Blackthorn. In the Autumn, feeding
windows made by the larva are <1mm across and two or sometimes three
leaves are usually peppered with these. The larva can be found either
under the leaf, but around mid-October, fixes itself at the junction of
stem and side shoot to overwinter. Full-sized larval cases, are quite
easy to locate on the upper surface of Blackthorn leaves the following
May. |
| .... |
| Adult, reared via ex-Market
Warsop STW larval case. Photographed May 2026 |
 |
|
 |
| .... |
| Photographed at Misson Carr
June 2025 |
 |
|
 |
| .... |
| Larval feeding signs by
pre-overwintering larva on Blackthorn Prunus spinosa,
photographed at Eakring Meadows NR October 2025. The larval case was
found in the immediate proximity, tucked into the joint of two woody
shoots. |
 |
|
 |
| .... |
|
Pre-overwintering larval case (3mm length) found near the above leaves
and feeding signs. Photographed at Eakring Meadows NR October 2025. |
 |
|
 |
| .... |
| Larval feeding signs made by
a slightly more advanced larva on Blackthorn Prunus spinosa,
photographed at Eakring village, October 2025. The larval case was
attached to the underside of the leaf. |
 |
|
 |
| .... |
|
Pre-overwintering larval case (3.5mm) photographed at Eakring village October
2025 |
 |
|
 |
| .... |
| Larval case, photographed
at Sherwood Forest CP May 2010 |
 |
|
 |
| .... |
|
Full-grown larval case, photographed at Market Warsop STW, May 2026 |
 |
|
 |
