Under Construction

Greya reticulata (Riley)

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 9-15.5 mm. Forewing in female white to pale ochreous, heavily banded with brownish confluent spots, creating a checkerspot pattern. Male with same ground color, but heavily irrorated with brown, and obsolescent and indistinct banding. Some males are almost devoid of pattern uniformly (male) to yellowish white (female). Hindwing gray, often darker in the female.

Comparison with Similar Species

Both sexes resemble G. powelli but the latter is much smaller and has narrower forewings. They are currently not known to coexist. Because reticulata feeds on a tall host and powelli on a prostrate host, they would be likely to fly at different heights above the ground if found together. The species was originally placed in Prodoxus, and the female shows superficial resemblance with P. coloradensis. The presence of a pollex in Greya is sufficient to correctly place this species away from Prodoxus.

Host, Oviposition, and Larval Feeding Habits

Feeds on Osmorhiza chilensis (Apiaceae). The female cuts and oviposits into young fruits, and the larva feeds on the developing seeds for the first one or two instars. The life history of later stages is unknown.

Geographic Distribution

Known from the coastal range of California, ranging from the San Francisco Bay area in the north to the USA-Mexico border.

Habitat

In moist situations with Osmorhiza chilensis as understory in shrubby, well-shaded deciduous forest. Elevational range, 100-500 m.

Type

Lectotype in USNM.

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.

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 reticulata
Location Santa Clara Co., California, 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 reticulata
Location Santa Clara Co., California, 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 reticulata (Riley). 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 reticulata (Riley). Version 01 January 1996 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Greya_reticulata/12328/1996.01.01 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 reticulata

Page Content

articles & notes

collections

people

Explore Other Groups

random page

  go to the Tree of Life home page
top