Knapweed case-bearer
Coleophora conspicuella
Coleophora conspicuella is a moth of the family Coleophoridae found in Asia and Europe. It was first described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1849.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coleophora_conspicuella
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Coleophoridae
Genus
Coleophora
Knapweed case-bearer belongs to the family Coleophoridae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Coleophora conspicuella is a moth of the family Coleophoridae found in Asia and Europe. It was first described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1849.
The Knapweed case-bearer (Coleophora conspicuella) is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized chalk grassland environments. The species depends on specific host plants in the knapweed family, making it extremely vulnerable to changes in grassland management and agricultural intensification.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This species can be found in all of Europe (except Ireland), in Siberia, Asia Minor, Syria, Iraq and Altai. These rather vulnerable moths mainly occur in field edges, grassy slopes and scrubland.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Knapweed case-bearer (Coleophora conspicuella) is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized chalk grassland environments. The species depends on specific host plants in the knapweed family, making it extremely vulnerable to changes in grassland management and agricultural intensification.
Agricultural intensification and conversion
Changes in grassland management practices
Habitat loss and fragmentation of chalk grasslands
Loss of host plant species (knapweeds)
Climate change affecting specialized habitat requirements
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Knapweed case-bearer (Coleophora conspicuella). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/knapweed-case-bearer