Emerged in late August from an elliptical stem gall on zigzag goldenrod, Solidago flexicaulis

Gall with pupa (different individual than the one shown in this series):


I was drawn to this gall because of how early it appeared in the spring and because I at first though the host was an aster, not a goldenrod. It appeared so early I figured the adult would emerge in spring or early summer, so I collected a few then, but no luck. Turns out it the larva takes its time in developing, and doesn't emerge as an adult until late August / Sept.

At first I thought this moth was Gnorimoschema gallaesolidaginis, per



reared from my area. However, I am placing it under G. galleasterella based on the following factors:

(1) BG says G. gallaesolidaginis forms galls on "two species of Goldenrod: Solidago altissima and Solidago gigantea"; S. flexicaulis is not listed and I couldn't find any records of gallaesolidaginis having been reared from S. flexicaulis galls, on BG or elsewhere
(2) A search for S. flexicaulis as plant host on the HOSTS database yields G. galleasterella but not gallaesolidaginis