''Coleophora argentula'' is a moth of the family Coleophoridae, found in most of Europe, Russia and Asia Minor. The larvae live in cases and feed on the seeds of yarrow and sneezewort.

Description

The wingspan is 9.5–13 mm. The forewing is cream-coloured with distinct white longitudinal stripes and with oblique streaks and scattered fuscous scales. Certain identification requires examination of genitalia preparations. Adults are on wing in June and July. ;

Ovum The egg cell, or ovum (plural ova), is the female reproductive cell, or gamete, in most anisogamous organisms (organisms that reproduce sexually with a larger, female gamete and a smaller, male one). The term is used when the female gamete is ...

Eggs are laid on the flowers of yarrow ('' Achillea millefolium'') and sneezewort (''

Achillea ptarmica ''Achillea ptarmica'' is a European species of herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the genus ''Achillea'' of the daisy family Asteraceae. Common names include the sneezewort, sneezeweed, bastard pellitory, European pellitory, fair-maid-of-Fr ...

''). ;Larva The early instars feed from early September on the withering flowers and seeds. Early larvae feed in the seedheads which can be attached together with silk; often making a long gallery and a flimsy, silken case at one end. This case is initially white, but becomes brown when fully formed and reaches a length of about 5–6 mm. ;Pupa Pupation takes place within the case.

Gallery

Image:Coleophora argentula larva.JPG, Larva File:Coleophora argentula larval cases.jpg, Larval cases on yarrow seeds File:37.102 BF563 Coleophora argentula, larva (5025812495).jpg, Close up of larval case File:Achillea millefolium vallee-de-grace-amiens 80 22062007 1.jpg, Yarrow ('' Achillea millefolium'') File:Achillea ptarmica RF.jpg, Sneezewort (''

'')

Etymology

The genus '' Coleophora'' was raised by the German

entomologist Entomology () is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such as arach ...

Jacob Hübner Jacob Hübner (20 June 1761 – 13 September 1826, in Augsburg) was a German entomologist. He was the author of ''Sammlung Europäischer Schmetterlinge'' (1796–1805), a founding work of entomology. Scientific career Hübner was the author of '' ...

in 1822. The name refers to a

sheath Sheath pronounced as , may refer to: * Scabbard, a sheath for holding a sword, knife, or other large blade, as well as guns, such as rifles. * The outer covering of a cable * Condom, a kind of contraception * Debye sheath, a layer of a plasma in ...

, i.e. to carry, from the portable case the larvae make. The moth was named ''argentula'' by the English entomologist James Francis Stephens in 1834, from a

specimen Specimen may refer to: Science and technology * Sample (material), a limited quantity of something which is intended to be similar to and represent a larger amount * Biological specimen or biospecimen, an organic specimen held by a biorepository ...

found near London, England. The species name comes from ''argentum'' – the silver streaks along the veins on the forewing, which are in contrast to the ochreous ground colour.

References

External links

Bestimmungshilfe für die in Europa nachgewiesenen Schmetterlingsarten
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5143218 argentula Moths described in 1834 Moths of Asia Moths of Europe Taxa named by James Francis Stephens