Under Construction

Greya mitellae Davis and Pellmyr

Olle Pellmyr
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Containing group: Greya

Adult Characteristics

Wing expanse 10-15 mm. This is arguably the most sexually dimorphic species of the genus. It also represents a reversal of the unusual size dimorphism in the genus. Forewings of the larger female are stramineous, and in the smaller male brown to dark yellow and slight purple iridescence in fresh specimens; both sexes marked with small, dark brown spots, usually fewer in number on the female. Hindwings medium to dark gray.

Comparison with Similar Species

Males are unmistakable, whereas females possibly can be mistaken for small indidivuals of the allopatric G. punctiferella. Greya punctiferella is a larger moth with lighter yellow ground color, narrower wings, and smeared spots.

Host, Oviposition, and Larval Feeding Habits

The species feeds exclusively on Mitella stauropetala (Saxifragaceae). Eggs are laid most commonly in leaf stalks, but also in the peduncle and in the floral calyx. The larvae evidently mine in vegetative tissue, but nothing is known about later instars.

Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

G. mitellae nectaring and accidentally pollinating a Mitella flower; notice pollen adhering to proboscis.

Geographic Distribution

Northwestern Idaho and the Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington. Further extension eastward of the host suggests that the moth may have a wider range as well.

Habitat

In moist coniferous or mixed forest, particularly in light gaps where the host tends to flower more luxuriantly. Elevational range 800-1300 m. The species often co-occurs with G. obscuromaculata.

Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

Typical habitat in Latah Co., Idaho.

Ecological Notes

Greya mitellae drinks nectar from the flowers of its host, and experimental studies show that pollen adheres to the proboscis and that the moth causes passive pollination of the flowers. Because few other flower visitors are observed in the habitat of M. stauropetala, this moth may be a very important pollinator to the plant (Pellmyr et al. 1996).

Phylogenetic Notes

In a phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial DNA sequence data, G. mitellae was nested within G. piperella (Brown et al 1994). It is evident that speciation of G. mitellae has occurred so recently that the mitochondrial lineages have not yet been assorted. Greya mitellae reflects speciation based on a simultaneous habitat and host shift, and there has been striking morphological evolution particularly in the male.

Type

Holotype in USNM.

References

Brown, J.M., O. Pellmyr, J.N. Thompson & R.G. Harrison. 1994. Phylogeny of Greya (Lepidoptera: Prodoxidae), based on nucleotide sequence variation in mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I and II: congruence with morphological data. Mol. Biol. Evol. 11:128-141.

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.

Pellmyr, O., J.N. Thompson, J. Brown & R.G. Harrison. 1996. Evolution of pollination and mutualism in the yucca moth lineage. Amer. Nat. 148:827-847.

Title Illustrations
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Scientific Name Greya mitellae
Location Latah Co., Idaho, USA
Specimen Condition Dead Specimen
Sex Male
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0.
Copyright © 1996
Scientific Name Greya mitellae
Location Nez Perce Co., Idaho, USA
Specimen Condition Dead Specimen
Sex Female
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0.
Copyright © 1996
About This Page


University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA

Page: Tree of Life Greya mitellae Davis and Pellmyr. Authored by Olle Pellmyr. The TEXT of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own license, and they may or may not be available for reuse. Click on an image or a media link to access the media data window, which provides the relevant licensing information. For the general terms and conditions of ToL material reuse and redistribution, please see the Tree of Life Copyright Policies.

Citing this page:

Pellmyr, Olle. 1996. Greya mitellae Davis and Pellmyr. Version 01 January 1996 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Greya_mitellae/12317/1996.01.01 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

edit this page
close box

This page is a Tree of Life Leaf Page.

Each ToL leaf page provides a synopsis of the characteristics of a group of organisms representing a leaf at the tip of the Tree of Life. The major distinction between a leaf and a branch of the Tree of Life is that a leaf cannot generally be further subdivided into subgroups representing distinct genetic lineages.

For a more detailed explanation of the different ToL page types, have a look at the Structure of the Tree of Life page.

close box

Greya mitellae

Page Content

articles & notes

collections

people

Explore Other Groups

random page

  go to the Tree of Life home page
top