Pupal cases? - Coleophora serratella

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Copyright © 2009 Seabrooke Leckie

Pupal cases? - Coleophora serratella

South Frontenac, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada
Size: 1 cm

I found dozens of these affixed to the terminal twigs of a White (Paper) Birch overhanging a small lake. It looked like there were perhaps two types, cocoons and eggs? Long cigar-shaped papery things, and then shorter hard-looking claw-shaped things. They occurred singly or in groups of two or more.

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Contributed by Seabrooke Leckie on 22 January, 2009 - 8:40pm
Last updated 25 March, 2015 - 7:03pm

Moved

Moved from Casebearer Moths.
I believe these are all Coleophora serratella. This is the only species known to make a tubular (as opposed to spatulate) leaf case on birch, and when younger it makes a strongly curved, composite leaf case.

… Charley Eiseman, 25 March, 2015 - 7:03pm

Casebearers

These are the cases of casebearer moth larvae (Coleophoridae). There are hundreds of species, and host plant can be helpful, but I think there are several similar ones on birch.

… Charley Eiseman, 22 January, 2009 - 8:56pm

Thanks!

I was thinking they were probably a little moth cocoon, but didn't really have an idea on which. Certainly were lots of them! Thanks for the ID!

… Seabrooke Leckie, 22 January, 2009 - 11:53pm

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