Luffia (ferchaultella ?)

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185   Virgin Smoke    Luffia (ferchaultella)
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Notes
Some of these cases were found by Rose Stephens. At first thought to be empty larval cases, she identified them as the larval cases of Luffia lapidella, which experts then pointed out is only known from the SW. of Britain.

In this case they were probably L. fercaultella, which differs only in that lapidella has winged males, whereas these are not known in ferchaultella. Just to confuse the issue further, there is a suggestion that the two species might be the same!

Both species coat there cases in sand or fragments of lichen and algae. The cased larvae feen on lichens on tree trunks or stones, and in this case were on a gravestone.

Yet another twist to this story - the cases were found to contain living larvae.
       Manor Park Cemetery, 30 January 2016 (photo by Rose Stephens)
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