Bug FAQStreaked Coleophora Moth
Coleophora cratipennella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Coleophoridae
Also called: Streaked Coleophora
The streaked coleophora moth has a wingspan of about 12 mm. Its larvae feed on the seeds of saltmarsh rush (Juncus gerardii) and possibly knotweed (Polygonum punctatum), living in a three-valved tubular silk case. It occurs in the United States, with records from states such as Kentucky, Pennsylvania, California, Maine and Oklahoma.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Larvae construct a trivalved, tubular silken case while feeding on seeds.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult’s wingspan is roughly 12 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
During the larval stage the insects feed on those seeds and build a trivalved silk case.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes the United States, with records from Kentucky, Pennsylvania, California, Maine and Oklahoma.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 25 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Alabama, Montana, Maryland, Mississippi, Texas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Massachusetts.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What do the larvae eat?
They feed on the seeds of saltmarsh rush (Juncus gerardii) and possibly knotweed (Polygonum punctatum).
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Coleophoridae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coleophora_cratipennella
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-29 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-29.