Photo © Tim Norriss

Coleophora lixella

Checklist Number
37.061 [B&F: 0530]

Verification
Record will require further evidence, at least a good photograph, unless CMR is aware recorder has confidence in identification

Classification

Family:Coleophoridae
Subfamily:Coleophorinae
Genus:Coleophora
Species:lixella
Authority:Zeller, 1849

Nationally scarce (Nb) on downland, calcareous grassland, sand-dunes and rocky slopes in parts of the British Isles, predominantly coastal in the north of its range. Restricted in Hampshire to a handful of sites, including Porton Down, Oxenbourne, Portsdown, Leckford, Micheldever Spoil Heaps, Lower Test Marshes and Broughton Down. Recorded on the Isle of Wight at Freshwater in 2011, for the first time in over a century. Wingspan 16-21 mm. Flies in afternoon sunshine and at night. Similar to Basil-thyme Case-bearer C. tricolor, but with upperside of apical portion of antenna white (MBGBI Vol 3). Larva mines leaves of Wild Thyme and various grasses, living within a movable case; case length 11 mm.

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
Freshwater (SZ38)1900-K G BlairAdult
Freshwater (SZ38)25/06/2011oneDave CookeAdult
Walter's Copse, Newtown (SZ49)05/07/2013oneTim NorrissAdult
The Needles (SZ28)03/07/2015oneStephen PlummerAdult
The Needles (SZ28)10/07/2015oneStephen PlummerAdult
Freshwater Bay (SZ38)29/06/2017fourPhil BardenAdult
Compton Down (SZ38)29/06/2017fourPhil BardenAdult
Compton Down (SZ38)25/06/2019onePhil BardenAdult
Needles (SZ28)28/06/2021onePhil BardenAdult
Brook Down (SZ38)07/07/2021twoPhil BardenAdult

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Southampton (SU41)1900-W Fassnidge-
Farley Mount (SU42)1900-W Fassnidge-
Brockenhurst (SU30)1900-W Fassnidge-
Pitt Down, Sparsholt (SU42)1962-Raymond WJ Uffen-
Oxenbourne Down (SU71)05/07/1975oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Broughton Down (SU23)09/06/1976oneD W H FfennellAdult
Winchester (SU43)05/07/1981twoD H SterlingAdult
Portsdown (SU60)20/09/1986oneJ R Langmaid, D H SterlingCase
Portsdown (SU60)23/04/1987oneJ R Langmaid, D H SterlingCase
Portsdown (SU60)23/05/1987-J R Langmaid, E C Pelham-ClintonLarval feeding signs
Lower Test Marshes NR (SU31)1993oneD H SterlingAdult
Broughton Down (SU23)01/07/1999twoBrian Elliott-
Portsdown (SU60)05/05/2000-J R Langmaid, B ElliottCase
Sway (SZ29)06/07/2013oneSteve KeenAdult
Old Winchester Hill (SU62)03/07/2015oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Southsea (SZ69)05/07/2015oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Portsmouth (SU60)05/07/2017oneIan ThirlwellAdult
Old Winchester Hill (SU62)05/07/2019oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Sway (SZ29)24/06/2020oneSteve KeenAdult
Sway (SZ29)01/07/2020oneSteve KeenAdult
Broughton Down HIWWT NR (SU23)15/06/2022-Robert A ChapmanAdult
Portsmouth (SU60)05/07/2022oneIan ThirlwellAdult
Browndown Coastal Ranges (SZ59)08/07/2022oneDavid WallaceAdult

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Micheldever (SU54)1971-D W H Ffennell-
Leckford Estate (SU33)09/07/1981oneJ R Langmaid, D H SterlingAdult
Leckford Estate (SU33)20/03/1983-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingCase
Leckford Estate (SU33)07/07/1985-J R Langmaid, D H, P H SterlingAdult
Leckford Estate (SU33)14/07/1985-J R Langmaid, E C Pelham-Clinton, D H SterlingAdult
Leckford Estate (SU33)26/04/1986oneJ R Langmaid, D H SterlingCase
Leckford Estate (SU33)29/06/1986-J R Langmaid, D H Sterling, P H Sterling, M S ParsonsAdult
Leckford Estate (SU33)10/07/1986-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingAdult
Leckford Estate (SU33)11/07/1987-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingAdult
Leckford Estate (SU33)22/06/1989oneJ R Langmaid, D H SterlingAdult
Leckford Estate (SU33)22/06/1992-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingAdult
Porton Down (SU23)01/07/2000-David G GreenAdult
Leckford Estate (SU33)15/07/2002-J R Langmaid, B ElliottAdult
Porton Down (SU23)03/07/2003-David G GreenAdult
Black Wood, Micheldever (SU54)01/07/2008oneColin Plant, Mike Wall, Tim NorrissAdult
Anna Valley, Andover (SU34)27/06/2009oneTim NorrissAdult
Leckford Estate (SU33)29/06/2010oneGlynne EvansAdult
Basingstoke (SU54)06/07/2013oneGlyn HenwoodAdult