Coleophora albicosta

Wingspan about 14 mm. The scientific name of this species is derived from the whitish streak along the costa, or forewing edge.

Around the larval foodplant Gorse.

Flying by day, but also sometimes coming to light at night, the adults are on the wing from May to July.

The larva feeds on Gorse. At first, it feeds on green seeds inside a seedpod. From July to November, it lives in a detached sepal rolled into a case, which it attaches to the side of a seedpod and bores in to feed on the seeds. From November to April, it diapauses full-fed in a silk case in a dead flower. In April it pupates in the overwintering case.

The species is fairly frequent throughout the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

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