Photo © Rob Edmunds

Coleophora potentillae

Checklist Number
37.027 [B&F: 0513]

Verification
Record requires retention of specimen until confirmed, and may require dissection. Consult with CMR if unsure

Classification

Family:Coleophoridae
Subfamily:Coleophorinae
Genus:Coleophora
Species:potentillae
Authority:Elisha, 1885

Local in rough grassland, damp woodland, fens, ditches and woodland rides in England, south of a line from Lincolnshire to Herefordshire, central and western Scotland, and western Ireland. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight there are scattered records throughout, but most frequent at Leckford, Botley Wood, Teg Down and Emer Bog. Wingspan 8-9.5 mm. Like many of the Coleophora, imagines are virtually impossible to identify without recourse to dissection, and best identified in the field, where in Hampshire the larvae are mainly found on rosaceous herbs and shrubs. Foodplants are wide ranging, quoted as including Agrimonia (Agrimony), Filpendula ulmaria (Meadowsweet), Fragaria vesca (Wild Strawberry), Geum spp (Avens), Potentilla spp. (Cinquefoils), Rosa spp. (Rose), Rubus sp (brambles). and also Crataegus (Hawthorn), Betula (Birch), Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn) and Helianthemum (Rock Rose). The case resembles that of C.violacea, but does not lie so flat again the leaf as this species (having a mouth angle of 30 to 50°). C.violacea also has a case which bulges in the middle, whereas in C.potentillae the case tapers towards the posterior.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

VC10 Isle of Wight

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Parkhurst Forest (SZ49)10/06/1938oneL T FordCase
Parkhurst Forest (SZ49)12/06/1938oneL T FordCase
Parkhurst Forest (SZ49)13/06/1938oneL T FordCase
Newtown Ranges (SZ49)18/09/1977-AMEmmet, EC Pelham-Clinton, Dr JD Bradley, RWJ UffenCase
Reeth Bay, Niton (SZ57)23/05/1997-David BiggsMine
Medina (SZ59)06/09/2003-David BiggsLarval

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Botley Wood (SU50)12/10/1978-John R LangmaidCase
Havant Thicket (SU71)05/11/1978oneJohn R LangmaidCase
Havant Thicket (SU71)25/09/1979-John R LangmaidCase
Havant Thicket (SU71)21/10/1979-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingCase
Havant Thicket (SU71)20/09/1980-J R Langmaid, R J HeckfordCase
Havant Thicket (SU71)18/10/1980-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingCase
Emer Bog NR (SU32)03/10/1982-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingCase
Havant Thicket (SU71)06/10/1983-John R LangmaidCase
Botley Wood (SU50)10/11/1984threeJ R Langmaid, D H Sterling, R P Knill-JonesCase
Emer Bog NR (SU32)05/10/1986twoJ R Langmaid, E C Pelham-ClintonCase
Havant Thicket (SU71)26/10/1986-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingCase
Botley Wood (SU50)10/09/1987oneJ R Langmaid, D H SterlingCase
Milford on Sea (SZ29)01/01/1989-J R Langmaid, D H, P H, M J SterlingLarval feeding signs
Botley Wood (SU51)03/06/1991twoJ R Langmaid, R J DicksonCase
Botley Wood (SU51)03/06/1991twoRichard J DicksonCase
Teg Down, Winchester (SU42)14/09/1991-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingCase
Botley Wood (SU50)30/09/1991oneJ R Langmaid, R J DicksonCase
Havant Thicket (SU71)04/10/1991-John R LangmaidLarval feeding signs
Botley Wood (SU50)20/09/1992-J R Langmaid, P H SterlingCase
Teg Down, Winchester (SU42)05/10/1992-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingCase
Emer Bog NR (SU42)10/10/1992-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingCase
Hookheath Meadows NR, Southwick (SU60)17/10/1992-John R LangmaidLarval feeding signs
Emer Bog NR (SU32)03/09/1997oneJ R Langmaid, B GoaterCase
Havant Thicket (SU71)25/02/1998-J R Langmaid, I R ThirlwellLarval feeding signs
Emer Bog (SU32)01/10/1999fourBrian ElliottCase
Emer Bog NR (SU32)02/10/1999oneJ R Langmaid, R J Dickson, B ElliottCase
Emer Bog NR (SU32)02/10/1999oneRichard J DicksonCase
Southleigh Forest (SU70)03/11/1999-J R Langmaid, I R ThirlwellLarval feeding signs
Teg Down, Winchester (SU42)25/10/2001-J R Langmaid, B ElliottCase
Emer Bog NR (SU32)22/09/2005-J R Langmaid, I R ThirlwellCase
Emer Bog NR (SU32)28/09/2006-J R Langmaid, B ElliottCase
West Walk (SU61)06/07/2007oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Highbridge (SU42)03/08/2010-David S HubbleAdult
Allbrook (SU42)03/08/2010-David S HubbleMine
Staunton CP (SU70)17/09/2019oneJ R Langmaid, I R Thirlwell & J W PhillipsCase
Whiteley (SU50)02/02/2023-Dan HoughtonLarval feeding signs
Botley Wood (SU50)02/02/2023-David WallaceLarval feeding signs

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Leckford Estate (SU33)17/09/1987-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingCase
Leckford Estate (SU33)13/10/1990-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingCase
Yateley Common (SU85)26/03/1993-J R Langmaid, B GoaterLarval feeding signs
Liss (SU72)15/11/2001-J R Langmaid, I R Thirlwell, B ElliottLarval feeding signs
Fleet Pond (SU85)13/02/2006-J R Langmaid, R D EdmundsLarval feeding signs
Faccombe (SU35)26/05/2013twoSusan A Clarke, David G GreenLarval
Yateley Common (SU85)24/11/2020twoJosie HewittLarval
Yateley Common (SU85)29/11/2020threeJosie HewittLarval