Species Galasa nigrinodis - Boxwood Leaftier - Hodges#5552

5552

Boxwood Webworm

original combination Cordylopeza nigrinodis Zeller, 1873

NIGRINODIS: from the Latin "niger" (black) + "nodus" (a knot)

- perhaps a reference to the conspicuous dark tufts of hair at the joints on the front legs?

Two Galasa species are found in America north of Mexico

forewing length 8.5 - 9.5mm (1)

forewing dull red with light gray border partway along leading edge; antemedial (AM) line whitish and zigzagged; medial (M) line inconspicuous; costa wavy, forming two shallow concavities where the AM and M lines begin; subterminal line composed of several longitudinal black streaks

front legs with conspicuous dark tufts of hair at the joints

genitalia

widespread in the east to western Texas and the Rocky Mountains (1)

adults fly from June to September

larvae feed on the leaves of boxwood (Buxus spp.) and Covell reports devilwood (Osmanthus) (1)

Larvae "tie together and eat dead leaves of boxwood." (2) Boxwood is Buxus, apparently not native to North America. B. sempervirens is called "American Boxwood", likely due to its longstanding popularity in cultivation. The moth appears to be native to North America--it is unclear what the native hostplants might be, perhaps other genera in the family Buxaceae. Allegheny Spurge, Pachysandra procumbens is one such native plant, but no information can be found on its possible hostplant status. (Based on Internet searches.)

Galasa nigripunctalis - Hodges #5553

Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, Moths of Western North America, Pl. 24.45m; p. 187. (3)

Covell, p. 405, plate 59 #6 (2)

Brimley, p. 297 (3)

Moth Photographers Group - species page with photographs of living and pinned adults.

Moth Photographers Group - photograph of living adult and related species for comparison

pinned adult image (John Glaser, Dalton State College, Georgia)