Pistol Case-bearer - Coleophora anatipennella

Wingspan 12 to 16 mm. This 'Pistol Case-bearers' are so named from the resemblance of their larval cases to an old flintlock pistol in shape. The adult moth is whitish with a few brownish speckles.

Adult cased larva/mine

Larval stage: photograph the case and feeding patterns on small mines in the leaf; note host species

Around the larval foodplants.

The flight period is June and July.

A range of larval foodplants are used, for example Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Apple.

The species occurs in England and Wales, commoner in the south. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

It appears to be uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, where there are few records. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).

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

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