Clover case-bearer vs common bubble snail

Coleophora alcyonipennella compared with Akera bullata

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Clover case-bearer	common bubble snail
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Mollusca (Mollusks)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Gastropoda (Gastropoda)
Order	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Aplysiida (Aplysiida)
Family	Coleophoridae	Akeridae
Genus	Coleophora	Akera
Species	Coleophora alcyonipennella	Akera bullata

Evolutionary Relationship

Clover case-bearer and common bubble snail share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Clover case-bearer

LC — Least Concern

common bubble snail

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Clover case-bearer	common bubble snail
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Clover case-bearer

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

common bubble snail

Habitat

Typically found in terrestrial and aquatic habitats including forests and freshwater.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.

Clover case-bearer

The clover case-bearer (Coleophora alcyonipennella) is a small moth in the family Coleophoridae, order Lepidoptera. True to the family name, the larvae construct portable cases from plant material or silk and plant fragments, dragging these cases as they feed, a unique behavioral adaptation that provides both protection and concealment. C. alcyonipennella is a specialist herbivore of leguminous plants, with larvae feeding primarily on clover species (Trifolium) and related plants in the family Fabaceae. Larval feeding can cause characteristic window-feeding damage visible on leaves, and heavily infested plants may show significant defoliation. The adults are narrow-winged moths with wing markings typical of the coleophorid family, and like most coleophorids, they are small and inconspicuous. The species is distributed across temperate Europe, with documented occurrences in Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, inhabiting diverse grassland, meadow, and agricultural habitats where its host plants are found. It is associated with both natural and semi-natural grasslands as well as agricultural fields and roadside verges. C. alcyonipennella is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with populations considered stable across its European range. The species has one generation per year in most of its range, with larvae overwintering in their portable cases before completing development in spring on expanding host plant foliage. Adults fly in summer.

common bubble snail

The common bubble snail (<em>Akera bullata</em>) is a marine gastropod mollusc found in the coastal waters of Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden. This species typically inhabits terrestrial and aquatic environments including forests and freshwater-adjacent marine areas, often occurring in shallow subtidal and intertidal zones of temperate European seas. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. As a member of the family Akeridae, the common bubble snail is characterized by its thin, fragile shell and its ability to swim briefly by flapping its large, wing-like parapodia. The species often forages on algae and detritus in sandy and muddy seafloor habitats, particularly in sheltered bays and estuaries. The common bubble snail typically aggregates in large numbers during the spawning season, producing gelatinous egg masses. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden