Coleophora parthenica

Adults are distinguished by their uniform creamy-white coloration. Larvae are identified by their orange coloration, case-bearing habit typical of Coleophoridae, and association with Salsola host plants. The species is distinguished from native North American Coleophora by its introduced status and documented association with Russian thistle.

Adults are creamy-white. Full-grown larvae are orange and approximately 17 mm in length.

Arid and semi-arid regions. Associated with habitats supporting Salsola species, including disturbed sites, agricultural fields, and rangelands.

Native to North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia (including Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey). Introduced and established in the United States in California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Arizona, and Hawaii.

Up to three generations per year in warm areas; one to two generations in cooler areas.

Larvae feed on Salsola species, including Salsola australis.

• Salsola australis - larval food plantDocumented host for larval feeding.
• Salsola spp. - larval food plantGeneral host association for Russian thistle species.

Up to three generations per year in warm climates; one to two generations in cooler regions. Larval development occurs within stems of host plants.

Larvae mine within stems of host plants. Case-bearing habit typical of family Coleophoridae.

Introduced biological control agent for invasive Salsola species. Established but ineffective due to natural enemy pressure and host-plant asynchrony.

Intentionally introduced for biological control of Russian thistle, an invasive agricultural weed. The introduction is considered unsuccessful in providing effective weed suppression.

• Other Coleophora speciesSimilar case-bearing larval morphology and adult size; distinguished by host association with Salsola and documented introduced range in western North America.
• Other stem-mining LepidopteraSimilar larval feeding habit; distinguished by specific association with Salsola and orange larval coloration at maturity.

• biological control
• introduced species
• stem miner
• pest management

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Natural enemies and host-plant asynchrony contributing to the failure of the introduced moth, Coleophora parthenica Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae), to control Russian thistle