Sophronia gelidella
Nordman, 1941
Sophronia gelidella is a gelechiid described by Nordman in 1941. It is distributed across northern Eurasia and has been recorded from the Yukon in North America. The is associated with arctic-alpine and has a wingspan of 17–19 mm.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Sophronia gelidella: /sɔːˈfroʊniə ˌɡɛlɪˈdɛlə/
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Identification
Appearance
Small with wingspan of 17–19 mm. As a member of Gelechiidae, it likely has narrow, forewings with relatively pointed apices, though specific coloration and pattern details are not documented in available sources.
Habitat
Arctic-alpine environments. Associated with supporting the larval plant Dryas octopetala, which grows in tundra, alpine meadows, and rocky slopes in northern regions.
Distribution
Norway, Sweden, Finland, northern Russia, and Yukon (North America).
Diet
Larvae feed on Dryas octopetala (mountain avens). feeding habits are not documented.
Host Associations
- Dryas octopetala - larval food plant evergreen subshrub of Rosaceae , characteristic of arctic-alpine regions
Ecological Role
Larval herbivore on Dryas octopetala; role in dynamics of arctic-alpine plant is not documented.
Similar Taxa
- Other Sophronia speciesCongeneric may overlap in distribution; identification requires detailed examination
- Other Gelechiidae contains numerous small, narrow-winged ; dissection or molecular methods typically required for definitive identification
More Details
Taxonomic note
Authorship sometimes cited as Nordmann, 1941; the original description was published by A. von Nordman.
Observation scarcity
Only 6 observations recorded on iNaturalist as of source date, suggesting the is rarely encountered or underreported, likely due to its remote arctic-alpine distribution.