Walshia floridensis

Hodges, 1978

Walshia floridensis is a small in the Cosmopterigidae, described by Ronald W. Hodges in 1978. It is to Florida, with active during the winter months. The is notable for its specific association with the legume Petalostemon pinnatum as a larval .

Walshia floridensis by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.Walshia floridensis by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Walshia floridensis: /ˈwɔl.ʃi.ə ˌflɔr.ɪˈdɛn.sɪs/

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Identification

Specific diagnostic features for distinguishing Walshia floridensis from are not documented in available sources. The Walshia contains multiple North , and precise identification typically requires examination of or other microscopic characters.

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Habitat

Associated with sand scrub on the Lake Wales Ridge of central Florida, where its larval Petalostemon pinnatum occurs.

Distribution

to Florida, United States. Recorded from sand scrub remnants in central Florida, specifically the Lake Wales Ridge region.

Seasonality

have been recorded on from November to January.

Diet

feed on Petalostemon pinnatum, a leguminous shrub.

Host Associations

  • Petalostemon pinnatum - larval feed on this ; specific feeding mode (leaf mining, stem boring, etc.) not documented

Similar Taxa

  • Other Walshia speciesMultiple occur in North America; distinguishing features not specified in available literature

More Details

Nomenclatural note

The specific epithet 'floridensis' refers to the state of Florida, the only known location for this . The author, Ronald W. Hodges, was a prominent who made substantial contributions to the of microlepidoptera.

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Sources and further reading