sparsipunctella

G. sparsipunctella (Walsingham)

Adult Characteristics

Only female known. The largest of all Greya species, with a wing expanse 23-27 mm. Forewings with a very light base color, heavily irrorated with dark brown scales to form diffuse streaks. Hindwings uniformly grayish brown.

Comparison with similar species

The combination of a distinct wing pattern and its large size makes this species easy to recognize.

Host, oviposition, and larval feeding habits

No information available.

Geographic Distribution

Only known from the type locality north of Mendocino, on the northern California coast. Three females were collected in three days of June by Walsingham in 1871, and it has not been found since then.

Habitat

The assumed site is now characterized by low, forb-rich ocean cliff vegetation, and by moist coniferous forest .

References

Davis, D.R., O. Pellmyr & J.N. Thompson. 1992. Biology and systematics 
          of Greya Busck and Tetragma n. gen. (Lepidoptera: Prodoxidae). 
          Smiths. Contrib. Zool. 524:1-88.

Holotype in NHM.

About this page

Olle Pellmyr
E-mail: pellmyr@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu.
Dept of Biology, Vanderbilt University, Box 1812-B Nashville, TN 37235, USA

Title illustration: Female from the type series, collected in Mendocino Co., California, USA.