BOXWOOD LEAFTIER
Galasa nigrinodis
PYRALID MOTH FAMILY (Pyralidae)
The Boxwood Leaftier has a wingspan of approximately .75 inch (1.3 to 2 cm). The forewing is dull red on the upper half, light gray in the midsection and scarlet in the basal area. The costal margin is slightly concave at the midpoint. The terminal line is composed of heavy black spots. The hindwing is plain pale tan with a black spotted terminal line. The legs have large tufts of hair at the joints.
The frequency of occurrence at Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods is not known. It has been photographed once at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center in late August 2015. It is widespread in eastern North America and is probably common in our area.
The larvae tie leaves of Boxwood together and eat the dead leaves. Boxwood, is a nonnative but long established plant in the U.S. It is not known what the native hostplants might be, but speculation is that it may be other genera in the Buxaceae family.
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