Yorkshire Status: Rare and local resident.

This is another rather elusive Coleophora. It was originally called C. wilkinsonella, named by Scott in 1861 after Yorkshire's very own Thomas Wilkinson who bred it from larvae "found on birch leaves at Scarborough about the year 1858" according to Porritt in 1883. Alas, it was found however that Zeller had described it as orbitella twelve years previously, so poor old Wilkinson, who deserved something to be named after him, is unremembered. We have records widely spread across the county, except for northern and western districts, but it is nowhere common. Half of the records are of adults at light, and half of larval cases. All cases in Yorkshire have been found on birch, but it will apparently also feed on Alder. The photograph of a case on gorse is just a case of a larva wandering, looking for somewhere to pupate.

Take care not to confuse cases with those of C. binderella which also feeds on birch and alder. Both have tubular cases made from two pieces of leaf stacked together end to end. The case of orbitella is "seamless" unlike the untidy frayed seam of binderella. The initial leaf turns greyish and the newer leaf is more brown, though it can appear unicolorous. No segments are added after hibernation, unlike binderella which adds an extension in spring made of fresh leaf material, so this section can look more green.

	Determination by Genitalia Examination (gen. det.) Required

	Case: A good quality photo or specimen of the case and plant/pabulum is required.

Recorded in 9 (5%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1883. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

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