Species Gnorimoschema gallaesolidaginis - Goldenrod Elliptical-Gall Moth - Hodges#1986

1986

Goldenrod Gall Moth, Goldenrod Gallmaker

Originally described as Gelechia gallaesolidaginis by Riley in 1869.

From Latin gallae- "of gall(s)" + solidaginis- "of Goldenrod"

This species is found in galls on the stems of Goldenrod (Solidago)

The larvae feed on two species of Goldenrod: Solidago altissima and Solidago gigantea

The female lays her eggs in dead leaves on, or in the leaf litter around, the goldenrods, where they stay dormant through the winter. The larva hatches in the spring, seeks out a plant, and burrows into the stem. Its presence causes the goldenrod to form a tumor-like structure called a gall, which encloses the larva and provides food for it. During the summer the larva pupates inside the gall, emerging in early fall to mate and lay eggs.

Pupa inside a gall

Recent genetic studies seem to show that populations that feed on one species are different from those that feed on the other- even though there's no other way to tell them apart. This could eventually lead to the formation of two different species.

Another study is looking at how the caterpillars cause the galls to form, in hopes of learning how humans can modify plant growth.

Hymenopterous parasites include Chalcidoidea, Ichneumonidae and Braconidae.

Epiblema scudderiana - Goldenrod Gall Moth . Differences described in:THE GOLDENROD ELLIPTICAL-GALL MOTH GNORIMOSCHEMA GALLAESOLIDAGINIS (RILEY) AND ITS PARASITES IN OHIO.

Goldenrod Spherical Gall Fly A fly that makes a similar gall on the same host:

Moth Photographers Group (MPG)

Barcode of Life (BOLD)

ECOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS AMONG GOLDENROD PLANT AND GALL INSECTS Winter Science Curriculum Project at State University of New York, Oswego

ALL GALLS ARE DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS (At Least In Goldenrod) Goldenrod galls at Hilton Pond

Functional Genomics of the Solidago insect gall system Description of work on the biochemistry of interactions between gall insects and the goldenrod by Joe Miller of the University of Iowa. Has illustrations of the hostplant, galls and adults.

THE GOLDENROD ELLIPTICAL-GALL MOTH GNORIMOSCHEMA GALLAESOLIDAGINIS (RILEY) AND ITS PARASITES IN OHIO. It tells the difference on the shape of the gall of this moth and of Epiblema scudderiana - Goldenrod Gall Moth, another goldenrod gall-maker.