Coleophora kuehnella

Wingspan between 14 and 17 mm.  Adult moths are white with some indistinct darker markings towards the wing tip. The larva mines the leaves of Oak.

Adult Larval case

Adult: Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required, and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In the comments box, state the key or ID method used and describe the size and identifying characters.  Larval Case: Please provide close up photograph of the case and state host plant.

The species is associated with Oak. (See Life History)

Adults fly in July and August.

The larva feeds on oak (Quercus) and forms a very distinctive-looking case. In the later stages, the actual case is surrounded by a semi-transparent 'cloak' constructed from scale-like segments of silken material.

This species is locally distributed mainly in the south-east of England, ranging northwards to the Midlands and Derbyshire. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

Rarely recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.  The first record for VC55 came from Ketton on 08/09/2022.

http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/C.kuehnella.htm

https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gelechioidea/coleophoridae/coleophora/coleophora-kuehnella/