Gnorimoschema shepherdiae

Priest, 2014

Gnorimoschema shepherdiae is a small gelechiid described by Ronald J. Priest in 2014. It is distributed across northern North America from Yukon to Michigan. The is a leaf-mining on Shepherdia canadensis, with larvae that feed internally on plant foliage.

Gnorimoschema shepherdiae by (c) Mathew* Zappa, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mathew* Zappa. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Gnorimoschema shepherdiae: //ˌnɔɹɪmoʊˈskiːmə ˌʃɛpərˈdaɪ.iː//

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Identification

Distinguished from by association with Shepherdia canadensis as the sole plant and by the specific forewing length range of 5–6.3 mm. Accurate identification requires examination of genitalia or molecular analysis.

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Appearance

Small with forewings measuring 5–6.3 mm in length.

Habitat

Associated with stands of Shepherdia canadensis, which grows in forest, riparian areas, and open woodlands across northern North America.

Distribution

Recorded from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Michigan, Quebec, and Yukon.

Diet

Larvae feed on Shepherdia canadensis. do not feed.

Host Associations

  • Shepherdia canadensis - obligate larval Larvae mine leaves of this plant

Life Cycle

Larvae develop as leaf miners within foliage of Shepherdia canadensis. Specific details of and timing are not documented.

Behavior

Larvae create internal leaf mines on the plant. are presumably and attracted to light, as is common in the Gelechiidae, though this has not been specifically documented for this .

Ecological Role

As a , larvae modify plant tissue and may serve as a food source for and other natural enemies. The contributes to local biodiversity in and northern temperate where its host plant occurs.

Human Relevance

No direct economic or medical significance. The is of interest to lepidopterists studying -plant specialization in microlepidoptera.

Similar Taxa

  • Gnorimoschema gallaesolidaginisAlso a North American gelechiid with plant-associated larvae, but causes elongate stem galls on goldenrod (Solidago) rather than leaf mines on Shepherdia, and has different plant specificity.
  • Other Gnorimoschema speciesNumerous occur in North America; most differ in plant associations and require genitalia examination for definitive identification.

More Details

Etymology

The specific epithet shepherdiae refers to the of its plant, Shepherdia.

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Sources and further reading